back to square one
Located back at the start, as after a dead end or failure.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The deal fell through, so we're back to square one.”
“My computer crashed before I saved the file, so I am back to square one.”
“You lose the game and go back to square one if you miss.”
“After weeks of negotiation, the contract collapsed and we found ourselves back to square one.”
“The recipe failed because the oven was too hot, so I am back to square one with a new bag of flour.”
“The city rejected our building plans today, which means the architects are back to square one regarding the design.”
“The manuscript, which she had revised seven times, was accidentally deleted from her laptop, leaving her back to square one with nothing but a faint memory of the opening chapter.”
disputed origin
The phrase is probably a metaphorical reference to children’s games such as snakes and ladders. The origin is not settled fact, though the expression is popularly said to derive from the board's layout, where a player who encounters a snake may find themselves returned to the very first square of the sequence.
- 01
all the way to Egery and back
The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.
- 02
as best one can
In the best possible way, given one's circumstances and abilities.
- 03
as far as one knows
To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.
- 04
back down
To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously had, or has planned to have.
- 05
back forty
The most remote or inaccessible part of any place.
- 06
back gammon player
A person, chiefly a homosexual, who has anal sex.
- 07
back in the game
Having recovered from a disadvantageous position.
- 08
back into
To advance to the post-season as a result of another team's loss, especially where one's own team has also lost.
Last updated August 10, 2026