back to square one

B

back to square one (idiom)
/bæk tə skwɛr wʌn/

Meaning

• starting over from the beginning after a failure or setback.
• returning to the initial stage of a process because of an unsuccessful attempt.
• reverting to the original starting point after an effort fails to produce results.
• beginning again from the start due to the previous effort’s ineffectiveness.
• going back to the first step after the current progress has proven unfruitful.

Example Sentences

1. After the software crashed, the team had to go back to square one.
2. The experiment didn’t yield any results, so they are back to square one.
3. Negotiations failed, leaving the parties back to square one.
4. When the proposal was rejected, it was back to square one for the project team.
5. The building plan was flawed, bringing the architects back to square one.
6. A few months ago, the local authorities had repaired the roads, but heavy rains have damaged them again, putting them back to square one.
7. The opposing parties had been trying to come to a compromise, but when the negotiations broke down, they were back to square one.

Origin and History

The phrase “back to square one” is a commonly used idiom that signifies returning to the beginning of a task or project after an unsuccessful attempt. Despite its widespread use, the origins of this phrase have multiple concepts and have been the subject of various theories and speculations. Below is a comprehensive exploration of these theories, detailing their historical and cultural contexts.

Radio Commentary and Football

One of the most popular theories attributes the origin of “back to square one” to the early days of radio broadcasting, specifically sports commentary. In the 1920s and 1930s, prominent radio broadcasters such as KDKA and the BBC used a system to describe the positions of players on a football field. They divided the field into numbered squares to aid listeners in visualizing the action. Square one was likely near the home goal, and thus, if play returned to that area, it was described as “back to square one.”

Board Games

Another plausible origin is related to board games such as Snakes and Ladders. In these games, players often have to return to the starting position if they land on certain squares, effectively going “back to square one.” This literal movement back to the starting point mirrors the idiomatic use of the phrase today.

Hopscotch

The children’s game of hopscotch, which has been played for centuries, is another potential source of the idiom. In hopscotch, players move through numbered squares and must return to the beginning if they fail to complete the sequence correctly. This action of returning to the first square could have inspired the phrase.

Early Newspaper Cartoons

A lesser-known theory suggests that the idiom might have originated from early 20th-century newspaper cartoons. Some comics used a numbered grid format, where the narrative would progress through numbered frames or squares. If a story reverted to the beginning, it might have been described as going “back to square one.”

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest known printed use of “back to square one” is from the 1950s. The phrase appeared in a 1952 edition of the “Manchester Guardian,” which used it to describe the failure of a plan and the necessity to start over. This printed usage indicates that the phrase was already well understood by the public at that time, suggesting its origins predate the 1950s.

Citation Snippet:

“It’s back to square one for the nation’s economic planners as they grapple with the unexpected downturn.” (Manchester Guardian, 1952)

Bottom Line

The idiom “back to square one” encapsulates the frustration and necessity of starting over after a failed attempt. Its origins are diverse and reflect various aspects of popular culture, from radio commentary and board games to children’s games and newspaper cartoons. Despite the lack of definitive evidence pinpointing its exact birth, the phrase has endured, symbolizing the universal experience of facing setbacks and beginning anew.

Theories such as the use of numbered squares in football commentary, the mechanics of board games like Snakes and Ladders, the rules of hopscotch, and narrative techniques in newspaper cartoons all provide plausible explanations. The earliest printed record from the 1952 “Manchester Guardian” reinforces the phrase’s mid-20th-century recognition.

Synonyms

1. start from scratch
2. start over
3. begin again
4. reset
5. reboot

Variants

• go back to square one
• back at square one
• return to square one

Failure, Game, Numbers