back to square one 退回起點;從頭再來
該習語源自擲色子游戲。當擲出某個特定的號碼時要受罰,于是還要重新再擲。該習語即指“無所進展,退回起點”,進而“從頭再來”。例如:I’m back to square one with the work.(我的工作又得從頭做起。)
A: Have you finished designing that office building? 那座辦公樓設(shè)計好了嗎?
B: We are back to square one now. 我們正在重新設(shè)計。
A: Back to square one? What’s the matter? 重新設(shè)計? 怎么回事?
B: We've worked out the plan, but it's been decided that we must use cheaper material. So we have to redesign it. 本來我們都已經(jīng)設(shè)計好了,但現(xiàn)在決定使用便宜點的材料,所以只得從頭再來。
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