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square one

noun

a starting point; initial stage or step:
If this plan fails, we'll have to go back to square one.

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First recorded in 1955–60; alluding to board games in which a player is penalized by being forced to return to the starting point

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Examples have not been reviewed.

"Then you have to wake up and you suddenly think 'oh, its back to square one, she is not here'."

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Ms Balan said she believes the case will now in effect go back to square one, and new proceedings can be launched.

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Later that same day, a general election was called, and it seemed like back to square one.

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Starting over from square one is humbling, Warner said.

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We’re back at square one, but the proceedings are even less serious than they were before.

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