振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)る

ふりだしにもどる
expression
to go back to square one; to start over from scratch
expression
1. to go back to square one; to return to the starting point
To lose all progress and have to start over from the beginning. Originally from board games where a player is sent back to the start square.
計画(けいかく)が振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)った。
The plan went back to square one.
ミスが見(み)つかって、振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)ることになった。
A mistake was found, and we had to go back to the beginning.
せっかく半年(はんとし)かけて準備(じゅんび)したのに、予算(よさん)の問題(もんだい)で全(すべ)てが振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)ってしまった。
Even though we spent half a year preparing, a budget issue sent everything back to square one.

Etymology

From the start square (振(ふ)り出(だ)し) in traditional Japanese board games like sugoroku, where landing on certain squares sends you back to the beginning.

Usage

Used when progress is completely lost and one must restart from zero. Carries a sense of frustration or disappointment.

Common collocations

  • 全(すべ)てが振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)る (everything goes back to square one)
  • 振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)ることになる (end up going back to the start)
  • また振(ふ)り出(だ)しに戻(もど)る (go back to square one again)

Related Words

Related: 振(ふ)り出(だ)す (to issue (a check))
Compare: 白紙(はくし)に戻(もど)す (to go back to square one)
Compare: 白紙(はくし)に戻(もど)る (to go back to square one)
general
Added 2026.3.23 15:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18500/18867_furidashinimodoru