reinvent the wheel

1. Do something again, from the beginning, especially in a needless or inefficient effort, as in School committees need not reinvent the wheel every time they try to improve the curriculum. This expression alludes to the invention of a simple but very important device that requires no improvement. [Second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

While it was daring in its hard-R riskiness and played on our basest fears, it didn’t reinvent the wheel, or even try to.

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“Mārama” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a good ride with first-rate cinematography and production design and a story with one or two more surprises than we expect.

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“I don’t think I tried to reinvent the wheel or step up to the plate with a different mindset. Just try to attack the game the right way. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that so far.”

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Democrats do not need to reinvent the wheel this time.

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“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything like that.”

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