Start from scratch
/stɑːt frəm ˈskrætʃ/informalUK · US
What does “Start from scratch” mean?
Start from scratch means to begin with nothing already prepared or completed
If you build a table from loose timber, you start from scratch. If you repair an old table, you already have something to work with.
“Back to square one” usually follows a setback. Starting from scratch can be a choice, and does not mean an earlier attempt failed.
When do people say it?
Use it for beginning without a ready-made base, earlier work or previous experience. It can describe a fresh start or starting again.
“With no saved design, we had to start from scratch.”
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?
Here “scratch” marks a starting point. The expression treats a task as something begun from that point, without an advantage.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Start from scratch” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Back to square one, Returning to the start after a failure
Last updated 2026-11-04