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

Instead of starting from scratch, the immune system appears to reactivate an established inflammatory response.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office in his corner, Sramek was chasing a prize: a $3 billion shipyard beside the city he wants to build from scratch here.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Then, she’ll start from scratch, asking what a patient is feeling and making clinical decisions from there.

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

The developer decided to make his own programming language, Jai, from scratch.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Not only was out lifestyle going to change dramatically, but they also knew they would have to start from scratch.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

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