square one

American  

noun

1. a starting point; initial stage or step.

   If this plan fails, we'll have to go back to square one.

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Etymology

Origin of square one

First recorded in 1955–60; alluding to board games in which a player is penalized by being forced to return to the starting point

Example Sentences

He had to begin at square one and get to square 100.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

Explain your current level of tech knowledge: If you’ve never touched code or a script before, tell the AI you’re starting from square one and it should explain every single step you need to take.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

"A few months later, back to square one again," he added.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Producing another clutch will require them to start from square one.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

Back to square one, back to being invisible and unnoticed.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan