reinvented the wheel
Solved something solved
Reinvented the wheel means wasted effort creating something that already exists in adequate form.
The phrase is almost always critical: We don't need to reinvent the wheel—just use the existing template.
Someone who reinvents the wheel ignores available solutions to solve a problem that's already been solved.
Occasionally used positively when genuine innovation improves on the original.
- rehashingRevisiting previously discussed material
- same old same oldWearisome repetition of routine
- duplicationMaking an identical copy
- inefficiencySuboptimal use of resources
- overengineeringExcessive unnecessary complexity
gilding the lily · going in circles · redundancy · superfluity · chasing one's tail · mismanagement · replication · starting from scratch · back to square one · overcomplication · reworking · redesign · false starts · busywork · make-work · bottlenecks · barking up the wrong tree · beating a dead horse
reinvented the wheelbroke new ground
Achieved an original first
innovated · pioneered · revolutionized · pushed the envelope · moved the needle
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