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Back to square one

Back to square one

Meaning

Back to the beginning.

Examples

He had nearly climbed the cliff before he slipped off. Now it’s back to square one.

Where did it originate?

Britain, early 20th century.

Where is it used?

In the UK, but less so than a few years ago.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Back to square one

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