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.
計画が振り出しに戻った。
The plan went back to square one.
ミスが見つかって、振り出しに戻ることになった。
A mistake was found, and we had to go back to the beginning.
せっかく半年かけて準備したのに、予算の問題で全てが振り出しに戻ってしまった。
Even though we spent half a year preparing, a budget issue sent everything back to square one.
ETYMOLOGY:
From the start square (振り出し) 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:
- 全てが振り出しに戻る (everything goes back to square one)
- 振り出しに戻ることになる (end up going back to the start)
- また振り出しに戻る (go back to square one again)