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

Which brings us back to Carlson, who understands that major publishers aren’t a censoring force to be circumvented, which is why he has partnered with Skyhorse rather than trying to build something entirely from scratch.

From Salon • Apr. 18, 2026

If agencies are building AI tools with taxpayer dollars, defaulting to open release also strengthens the broader ecosystem, giving startups and researchers building blocks they can’t afford to create from scratch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

I lived part of my teen years in Brasília, the capital built from scratch whose architecture and urban planning have drawn equal parts fascination and disdain.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

"I fancied building a UFO, but doing it from scratch would have been too expensive."

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan