Go back to the drawing board
/ɡəʊ bæk tə ðə ˈdrɔːɪŋ bɔːd/informalUK · US
What does “Go back to the drawing board” mean?
Go back to the drawing board means to start planning again because an earlier idea did not work.
Going back to the drawing board means rethinking a plan that has failed. You use what went wrong to try another approach.
It acknowledges a setback without giving up. The tone can be disappointed, practical or gently humorous.
When do people say it?
Use it when a design or plan needs a fresh approach after a setback.
“The prototype leaked, so we went back to the drawing board.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
The image comes from returning to the board where a design is drawn. Accounts of its first use differ.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Go back to the drawing board” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Back to square one, Returning to the start after a failure
- Throw in the towel, To give up or admit defeat.
Last reviewed 2026-09-12