from scratch

Idioms  

1. From the very beginning, from the outset; from nothing. For example, I knew we'd have a problem from scratch. Similarly, to start from scratch means “to start from the very beginning,” as in After the business failed, they decided to reorganize and start from scratch. This term comes from racing, where a competitor starts from the line scratched into the ground (whereas others may start ahead with a handicap). [Mid-1800s] Also see from the ground up; from the word go.

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Example Sentences

From scratch, in other words, his focus was on stopping an “invasion” of this land.

From Salon • Sep. 8, 2019

But it took more than luck for the new French president to accomplish something most students of French politics thought impossible: From scratch, he built his own political party of the center, En Marche!

From Washington Post • May 7, 2017

From scratch to finish, it takes two weeks.

From The Guardian • Nov. 9, 2016

From scratch, he built arguably the world’s most spectacular stadium, home to last April’s Final Four and next January’s first national collegiate championship game.

From Forbes • Sep. 4, 2014