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

See Examples For:

from scratch

Ultraprocessed foods are often cheaper than ingredients used to cook from scratch, and they’re often easier to access.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026

Speaking of which, there also will be new school meal items: a vegan blueberry muffin, Poly High’s Butter Chicken, a cheesesteak on sourdough and chicken posole made from scratch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

"If massive black holes already existed immediately after the bounce, the early Universe would not need to start from scratch when building the first galaxies," Gaztañaga said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Ukraine has built a sprawling drone industry from scratch, hailed by President Volodymyr Zelensky as the best in the world.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Even in the house he built up nearly from scratch, he was still Big Ma’s child.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia