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

The first sign the job was not up to scratch was when one of the walls started to wobble when pushed.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Both species make tools for foraging—the crow makes 15 separate ones—but chimps also use tools to scratch or clean their bodies and to threaten others.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Universal’s “Miami Vice ’85” movie reboot won’t come out until 2028, but fans of the neon-hued South Florida crime genre looking to scratch that itch can check out “M.I.A.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

He said playing professionally overseas has been “like me trying to scratch a last itch.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Nok tugged at the cuffs of her itchy dress, fighting the urge to scratch her arms.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat