noun
the situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail
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the police are now back at square one after having arrested and released 27 men
-
she has tried to diet but always ends up back at square one
• Hypernyms: ↑situation, ↑state of affairs
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noun : the initial stage or starting point of a process
had to start all over again, from square one — H.C.McDonald
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a starting point; initial stage or step: If this plan fails, we'll have to go back to square one.
[1955-60; alluding to board games in which a player is penalized by being forced to return to the starting point]
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noun [noncount]
: the beginning stage or starting point
His idea didn't work, so he had to go back to square one. [=he had to start over]
They lost everything and found themselves back at square one.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.