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

The point is that there’s no need to undersell the talent that’s left and start from scratch because that doesn’t offer any greater likelihood of becoming a contender than keeping Achane and Waddle would. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025

So instead of the usual process where officials tinker with last year’s budget to find savings, city officials would start from scratch in at least some departments. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Nov. 2025

That meant Cotter needed to start from scratch on a new work plan for the site. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 30 Oct. 2025

Better Memory and Context Copilot finally gets a memory, something ChatGPT offers, so every interaction doesn't start from scratch. —PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for start from scratch

• attach
• bycatch
• despatch
• detach
• dispatch
• mismatch
• nuthatch
• potlatch
• toothache
• bache
• batch
• brach