PhrasesHub

Go back to the drawing board

    Definitions

      • Start over and revise
        To abandon a current plan or idea and return to the initial stages of development or planning in order to make necessary changes or improvements

      • Failure or unsatisfactory result
        To express disappointment or dissatisfaction with the current state of something, suggesting the need for a new approach or strategy

    Examples of Go back to the drawing board

    • The marketing campaign we launched last week didn't meet our expectations. We'll have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new strategy.

      This idiom is used when a project or plan doesn't succeed as planned, and the people involved need to start over and rethink their approach. It refers to the literal act of returning to the initial sketches or designs in order to revise and refine them.

    • The actor bombed at the première last night, so the director suggested going back to the drawing board with the script and rethinking the character's motivations.

      In this context, the idiom is used to mean that the creative process needs to be restarted from the beginning, to make necessary changes and improvements.

    • The architect presented her designs to the client, but they weren't exactly what he had in mind. She'll have to go back to the drawing board and take his feedback into account before presenting a new proposal.

      This idiom highlights the importance of collaboration and communication in the creative process, as ideas and feedback are constantly being refined and revised.

    • The company's product launch was a flop, so the CEO demanded that the engineers go back to the drawing board and completely overhaul the design.

      Sometimes, when a product or project fails, it's necessary to start from scratch and rethink the entire concept. This idiom can also imply a sense of frustration or disappointment, as the initial efforts didn't produce the desired results.

    • The marketing campaign we just launched didn't generate as many leads as we expected. It's time to go back to the drawing board and brainstorm some new ideas.

      This idiom is used when a planned effort has failed, and a new approach is required. In this example, the marketing campaign didn't produce the desired results, so the team needs to rethink their strategy and come up with some fresh ideas.

    • The product we developed has received negative feedback from our customers. We need to go back to the drawing board and make some significant changes.

      This idiom is used when a product or service doesn't meet the needs of its intended audience. In this example, the product has received negative feedback, so the team needs to revisit their design and development process to make improvements.

    • Although we put a lot of effort into designing this website, it still doesn't look or function the way we want it to. We need to go back to the drawing board and start again from scratch.

      This idiom is used when a project or endeavor has not reached its desired outcome, and a complete overhaul is required. In this example, the website didn't meet the team's expectations, so they need to start from the beginning and create a new design.

    • The presentation we prepared fell short of its objectives. We need to go back to the drawing board and revise our content and style.

      This idiom is used when a presentation or performance doesn't achieve its intended goals, and additional work is necessary. In this example, the presentation didn't meet its objectives, so the team needs to review their content and style to improve their results.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "go back to the drawing board" is often used to convey the idea of starting over or making changes in order to achieve a better result. It can be used in both a literal sense, when referring to a physical drawing board, or in a figurative sense, when discussing a plan or idea.

    This idiom is commonly used in situations where the current approach or strategy is not working and there is a need for a new direction. It can also be used to express disappointment or frustration with the current state of something, implying that a new approach is needed in order to achieve success.

    Origin of "Go back to the drawing board"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the early 20th century when architects and engineers would use a physical drawing board to create and revise their designs. If a design was not meeting expectations or needed significant changes, they would have to go back to the drawing board and start over.

    Over time, the idiom became more widely used in various industries and contexts, representing the idea of starting over or revising plans in order to achieve success. It is now a common phrase in everyday language, often used in business, sports, and other areas where there is a need for constant improvement and adaptation.