English idiom

back to the drawing board

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed

Why this phrase?

From the board where engineers and designers sketch out new plans.

Example

“The design was rejected, so it's back to the drawing board.”

Dictionary details

Alternate forms

go back to the drawing board

Component words

drawing board

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

sweep the board

To win every available prize or category in a competition.

above board

honest, legal, and transparent

back to square one

to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

for the time being

temporarily, until circumstances change

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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