start from scratch
idiom
: to begin from a point at which nothing has been done yet
Nothing like this had ever been done before, so we had to start from scratch.
Examples of start from scratch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eventually, his bosses ordered him to clean up his disorganized lab, start from scratch, get it together.
—
P.e. Moskowitz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But Oracle didn't start from scratch and keep in mind, Oracle came out with RAC 25 years ago, which means its original patents have expired – and no one has come up with an answer to it even today.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
The force had to start from scratch after Katrina flooded the department, which had been located about 3 miles inland.
—Debbie Elliott, NPR, 29 Aug. 2025
For those Game Masters who don’t want to start from scratch, there’s Murder In Metal City.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start from scratch
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P.e. Moskowitz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But Oracle didn't start from scratch and keep in mind, Oracle came out with RAC 25 years ago, which means its original patents have expired – and no one has come up with an answer to it even today.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
The force had to start from scratch after Katrina flooded the department, which had been located about 3 miles inland.
—Debbie Elliott, NPR, 29 Aug. 2025
For those Game Masters who don’t want to start from scratch, there’s Murder In Metal City.
—Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for start from scratch
Cite this Entry
“Start from scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start%20from%20scratch. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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