from scratch

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

But having killed off almost every character, Hwang has had to start from scratch, with a new cast and set of games, and this time audience expectations are sky high.

From BBC

If, after flipping through this gorgeous tome you find yourself ready to sell everything you own and start from scratch as a high-end minimalist, who could blame you?

From Los Angeles Times

“If I need to make something from scratch, I need to work double time before I finish the product,” she explains.

From BBC

Gen AI systems, whether they are designed to produce text, images or audio, don't create anything from scratch, but are trained on existing material.

From BBC

Making a cake at home — from scratch! — can certainly be an anxiety-inducing thought.

From Salon