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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Start from scratch'? Begin (again) from the beginning, embark on something without any preparation or advantage. What's the origin of the phrase 'Start from scratch'?
To create something from scratch is to make it without any ingredients or materials prepared ahead of time. The scratch in from scratch originally referred to the starting line of a race 'scratched' into the ground, from which all runners would be starting without a head start.
- From The Ground Up
- From Nothing
- From The Beginning
- Back to Square One
- From Zero
- From The Top
- Ex Nihilo
- Out of Nothing
- Do It Again
“From the ground up” is the best formal alternative you can use. It shows that you are building something out of nothing. The idiom comes from buildings, which start off as plots of land (or “ground”) and have to be built “up” to create them. The more you can build “from the ground up,” the stronger you will become as a candidate. That’s why it’s g...
“From nothing” might seem simple, but it’s a very effective choice that shows you’ve built something from nothing. “Nothing” implies that you had no base or starting point. If you can demonstrate something you’ve created out of nothing, it will show people what you’re made of. It’ll certainly make you a desirable hire to most employers going forwar...
“From the beginning” is a good way to take things back to basics. It shows that you need to think things through and make sure you carry out tasks in a more efficient way based onall the things you’ve learned from other situations. Again, it’s implied that you aren’t starting with anything here. You are only creating something “from scratch,” which...
“Back to square one” is a great idiomatic expression you can use. It shows that you need to go back to the start of a project or task before you can complete it effectively. It allows you to rethink your approaches before moving forward. It’s common to learn from experiences. The more time you invest in something, the better you get at it. Therefor...
“From zero” is a good choice in some contexts. It’s a good synonym because it shows that you’re working from nothing. “Zero” is used to show that you have nothing to start with and that you are creating things as you go. “From zero” isn’t as common as some of the other options. Nevertheless, it still has its place in business English. It’s worth ho...
“From the top” is a good way to show that you need someone to repeat a task or situation. “The top” means you have to go back to the beginning. If you want to see whether someone can improve something, this phrase works well. It’s most common to hear “from the top” in performances. People will say “from the top” after a song rehearsal to get all of...
“Ex nihilo” is an interesting one you can use. It’s a Latin phrase that is still somewhat popular today. People use it all the time to refer to something that was created from scratch or from nothing. “Ex nihilo” translates to “out of nothing.” It shows that you created something from the ground up without having a starting point. This is a great w...
“Out of nothing” is the English translation for “ex nihilo.” You can use it in the same vein, and some people prefer using it because it is English (rather than Latin). It’s a great one to use in business contexts. Again, if you’ve managed to create something from “nothing,” it means you’ve created all the important parts yourself. This shows that ...
“Do it again” is a command that you might hear. It shows that someone is asking you to complete a task again, often by implying that you need to do it without any outside input. This works best when someone is disappointed by what you’ve achieved. If they think you can do better, or they want you to work on it “from scratch,” they might demand that...
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Oct 7, 2022 · When someone says that they should 'start from scratch' it implies a start from the beginning, or a start from nothing. The phrase can be used to say that someone has to (or is going to) 'start from scratch', or the phrase can be used in the present tense to say that someone is 'starting from scratch'.
To begin from nothing at all, without having a head start or some other advantage. This term comes from racing, where a horse or runner is said to start from scratch when starting from the usual point—that is, the line “scratched” (marked) on the course—while others may be starting ahead with a handicap.
To begin from nothing at all, without having a head start or some other advantage. This term comes from racing, where a horse or runner is said to start from scratch when starting from the usual point—that is, the line “scratched” (marked) on the course—while others may be starting ahead with a handicap.
To start from scratch means to begin at the beginning, to restart from the beginning or to start over with no source of aid. The idiom start from scratch comes from sporting events such as cricket, horse racing or boxing which begin with people or animals positioned behind a scratch in the ground.
