Square One (Noun)
Meaning
The situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail; "the police are now back at square one after having arrested and released 27 men"; "she has tried to diet but always ends up back at square one".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- After several failed prototype tests, the engineering team found themselves back at square one.
- The negotiators were disappointed to be back at square one after their proposed agreement was rejected by the board of directors.
- Following the latest economic downturn, many entrepreneurs found themselves back at square one, restarting their businesses from scratch.
- After numerous setbacks and failed attempts, the researcher was forced to start over, back at square one.
- Despite months of training, the athlete suffered an injury that brought her back to square one, forcing her to start her rehabilitation all over again.