drawing board

American  

noun

1. a rectangular board on which paper is placed or mounted for drawing or drafting.

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idioms

1. back to the drawing board, back to the original or an earlier stage of planning or development.

   Our plan didn't work out, so it's back to the drawing board.

2. on the drawing board, in the planning or design stage.

   The shopping center is still on the drawing board.

drawing board British  

noun

1. a smooth flat rectangular board on which paper, canvas, etc, is placed for making drawings

2. return to an earlier stage in an enterprise because a planned undertaking has failed

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drawing board More Idioms  

1. see back to the drawing board.

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Etymology

Origin of drawing board

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

“I think this showed we can beat anyone if we play our game. We gotta go back to the drawing board. We can’t have costly turnovers like that at the end.”

From Los Angeles Times

Carbon taxes will almost certainly come back to the drawing board if only for fiscal reasons.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Boss, it is “back to the drawing board” after an underwhelming update on its Honeymoon mine, says Macquarie.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Boss, it is “back to the drawing board” after an underwhelming update on its Honeymoon mine, says Macquarie.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lewis and other Republican leaders went back to the drawing board.

From Salon