Back to square one

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral
用闪卡、测验和音频练习 WordLoci

含义: Having to start again from the beginning

回到原点,从头开始
Tener que empezar de nuevo desde el principio
最初からやり直しになる
처음부터 다시 시작해야 하는 것.

When progress is lost and you must return to the starting point. The frustration of having to redo work or start over after a setback.

当进展付之东流,不得不回到起点时。在遭受挫折后必须重新做或从头开始的沮丧感。
Cuando se pierde el progreso y hay que volver al punto de partida. La frustración de tener que rehacer el trabajo o empezar de cero tras un revés.
進捗が失われ、出発点に戻らなければならないこと。挫折の後に作業をやり直したり、最初からやり直さなければならない苛立ち。
실패나 좌절 후 출발점으로 돌아가는 것. 보드게임에서 유래.

例句

  1. The project failed, so we're back to square one.
    项目失败了,所以我们又回到了原点
    El proyecto fracasó, así que volvemos a la casilla de salida
    プロジェクトが失敗したので、振り出しに戻った
    디자인이 거절당했다—원점으로 돌아갔다.
  2. If this doesn't work, it's back to square one.
    如果这行不通,就得从头来过
    Si esto no funciona, vuelta a empezar
    これがうまくいかなければ、振り出しに戻りだ
    이것마저 실패하면 원점으로 돌아가는 거야.
  3. Her resignation put us back to square one.
    她的辞职让我们回到了起点
    Su dimisión nos devolvió a la casilla de salida
    彼女の辞任で振り出しに戻った
    재시작 후, 원점으로 돌아갔다.

发音

/bæk tə skweə wʌn/

用法指南

语境: setbacks, failure, starting over

语气: resigned, frustrated

✓ 正确说法

  • Back to square one
    回到原点
    Vuelta a la casilla de salida
    振り出しに戻る
    원점으로 돌아가다
  • We're back to square one
    我们又回到了原点
    Hemos vuelto al punto de partida
    振り出しに戻ってしまった
    우리 원점으로 돌아갔어

✗ 错误说法

  • Implies complete restart
    意味着完全重新开始
    Implica un reinicio completo
    完全なやり直しを意味する
    완전한 재시작을 의미함

常见错误

起源与历史

Possibly from board games like hopscotch or snakes and ladders where landing on certain squares sends you back to start. May also be from early BBC football commentary that divided the pitch into numbered squares.

词源: From board games or BBC football commentary grid

最早记录: Mid-20th century

文化背景

Era: Mid-20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common in project management; Business context

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

变体

Back to square oneSquare oneStarting from square one

相关短语

更多同类表达

Taking the Mickey ★★★★★ Making fun of someone or something; teasing Brilliant ★★★★★ Excellent, wonderful (British emphasis) No Worries ★★★★★ It's fine, don't worry about it, you're welcome Fair Enough ★★★★★ That's reasonable, I accept that You Know What I Mean ★★★★★ Do you understand? (seeking confirmation) It's Not Rocket Science ★★★★★ It's not that complicated or difficult
X / Twitter WhatsApp Facebook

More from Common Expressions

"Back to square one" 上练习 WordLoci

闪卡、测验、音频发音和间隔重复 — 全部免费