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back to the drawing board

time to start planning again after a failure

In Headline Expressions

In more detail

(idiom) to start over again from the beginning, usually because a plan or attempt has failed

Examples

• After the prototype didn't work, we had to go back to the drawing board and try a completely different design.

How to use back to the drawing board

This idiom is used when a previous attempt, plan, or project has failed and must be completely reconsidered or redone from the beginning. It conveys a sense of setback but also pragmatism and willingness to try a different approach. It is commonly used in business, creative, academic, and problem-solving contexts.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• go back to the drawing board
• back to the drawing board
• sent back to the drawing board
• it's back to the drawing board

Synonyms

start from scratch · begin again · go back to square one · start over

A common mistake

Learners sometimes say 'back on the drawing board' instead of 'back to the drawing board'; the preposition 'to' is essential.

Nearby in Headline Expressions

kick the can down the road, move the goalposts, a hard sell, the elephant in the room, a perfect storm, a double-edged sword

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained