go back to square one



go back to square one

Fig. to return to the starting point. (Alludes to the squares of a board game.) It's back to square one. We have to start over. It looks like it's back to square one for you.
See also: back, one, square

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BrittaniBRIT-nee, BRIT-ə-neeEnglish (Modern)
SÍNeSHEE-naIrish
CÁNdidoKAHN-dhee-dhoSpanish
Bates[beits]
Corrie['kɔri]
Lucineh-Armenian