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
Although the founders worked in the perfume industry in corporate America, making perfumes themselves required them to start from scratch.
—
Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Regardless, Straka plans to tee it up next week at East Lake for the Tour Championship, where all 30 players start from scratch in pursuit of the $10 million FedExCup title.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
For example, the Rescue Mission wanted to renovate and use existing buildings, while Interfaith hoped to start from scratch, which might have caused more expenses for the city.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Indeed, DiPietro had to start from scratch in the organization.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for start from scratch
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Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Regardless, Straka plans to tee it up next week at East Lake for the Tour Championship, where all 30 players start from scratch in pursuit of the $10 million FedExCup title.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
For example, the Rescue Mission wanted to renovate and use existing buildings, while Interfaith hoped to start from scratch, which might have caused more expenses for the city.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025
Indeed, DiPietro had to start from scratch in the organization.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 July 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 4 Sep. 2025.
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