Phrase of the day

Discover a new phrase each day to use in your English! These are special phrases and sayings that English speakers use all the time, but you don't often see these phrases in English course books or other study material. Visit daily to learn some popular English phrases on a regular basis.
22nd December 2024

Back to square one

We use this expression to complain about having to start a task again, especially after something has gone wrong.
Usage
Written: 
Yes
Spoken: 
Yes
Formal: 
No
Informal: 
Yes
Example 1
The computer just crashed after I've spent three hours on my essay.
Did you save a back-up copy?
No I'm afraid not.
Example 2
Driving a car and driving a bus aren't completely different.
That's good. So if I want to learn to drive a bus, I don't have to go back to square one.

Find an Online English Course