Go back to the drawing board

Meaning

Restart planning from scratch.

Usage

Used when previous work must be redone.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Engineers redrawing plans after failed attempts.

Popularized by 20th-century cartoons.