square one
Where attempts restart
Square one is the starting point, especially one you return to after a setback.
The phrase almost always appears with back to: The deal fell through, so we're back to square one.
The image suggests a board game where landing on certain squares sends you to the beginning.
Starting from square one means beginning with nothing established.
Opportunity to restart unburdened
- clean slateRecord wiped clear
- do-overAnother chance given
- restartCommence anew
- rebootCycle power intentionally
renewal · starting over · blank slate · new beginning · second chance · reinvention · recalibration · recommencement
Place of commencement
- outsetInitial point of something
- inceptionFounding moment
- genesisPoint of creation
- commencementAct of starting
origin · dawn · kickoff · launch · debut · introduction · threshold · advent
Foundational preparation for something
- basicsFoundational knowledge of something
- fundamentalsCore elements of something
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- footingSecure ground position
base · cornerstone · underpinning · building blocks · first principles · rudiments · essentials · framework
fresh start
Opportunity to restart unburdened
- clean slateRecord wiped clear
- do-overAnother chance given
- restartCommence anew
reboot · renewal · starting over · blank slate · new beginning · second chance · reinvention · recalibration · recommencement · revival
starting point
Place of commencement
commencement · origin · dawn · kickoff · launch · debut · introduction · threshold · advent · initiation
groundwork
Foundational preparation for something
- basicsFoundational knowledge of something
- fundamentalsCore elements of something
- bedrockSolid stone underground
footing · base · cornerstone · underpinning · building blocks · first principles · rudiments · essentials · framework · ABC
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
- getting startedgetting started, start, begin, first steps, basics
- fresh startfresh start, new beginning, clean slate, starting over, do-over
- starting freshfresh start, clean slate, blank slate, starting point, ground zero
- problem-solvingproblem solving, puzzles, riddles, logic, solutions
- beginning phrasesonce upon a time, in the beginning, first of all, to start with, to begin with
square onethe end
Final point of something
completion · mission accomplished · endgame · home stretch · done and dusted
square onemastery
Complete skill or control
advanced stage · peak performance · maturity · late stage · graduation
one, square, squares, squarely, squared, squaring, squarer, squarest, squareness