start from scratch

phrase

: 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
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Unlike the full-size cars used in Miami, which could be scaled up from the existing range of Lego F1 models available in shops, the go-kart concept had to start from scratch. Luke Smith, New York Times, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Start from scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start%20from%20scratch. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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