back to the drawing board
To start planning something again because the first plan failed
Literalmente: Returning to the board used for drawing architectural or engineering designs.
Use this when a project fails completely and you need a fresh start from the planning stage.
Em 15 segundos
- Used when a plan fails and you must start over.
- Common in business, creative projects, and daily problem-solving.
- Implies resilience and the intent to try a new approach.
Significado
It means your current plan or idea didn't work out. Now, you have to start over from the very beginning to find a new solution.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6A failed marketing campaign
The ad didn't get any clicks, so it's back to the drawing board for the creative team.
The ad didn't get any clicks, so it's back to the drawing board for the creative team.
Cooking a meal that tastes terrible
This soup is way too salty to eat; I guess it's back to the drawing board!
This soup is way too salty to eat; I guess it's back to the drawing board!
A rejected marriage proposal
She said no, so I guess it's back to the drawing board for my life plan.
She said no, so I guess it's back to the drawing board for my life plan.
Contexto cultural
The phrase originated from a New Yorker cartoon by Peter Arno in 1941, depicting an airplane designer walking away from a crashed prototype. It captures a specific Western 'pioneer' spirit of viewing failure as a temporary setback in the design process. It became deeply embedded in English during the industrial and tech booms of the 20th century.
The 'Go' Rule
While you can just say the phrase alone, it almost always uses the verb `go`. Avoid saying `do the drawing board` or `make the drawing board`.
Don't be too dramatic
If you just need to change one small thing, don't use this. It implies a total restart. Using it for small fixes makes you sound like you're overreacting.
Em 15 segundos
- Used when a plan fails and you must start over.
- Common in business, creative projects, and daily problem-solving.
- Implies resilience and the intent to try a new approach.
What It Means
Imagine you spent hours building a Lego castle. Suddenly, it collapses because the base was too weak. You cannot just fix one brick. You have to clear the table and start again. That is back to the drawing board. It means your project or idea failed completely. You are now returning to the initial planning stage. It sounds a bit sad, but it is actually about being resilient.
How To Use It
You usually use this phrase after a disappointment. It often follows a sentence explaining what went wrong. Use it with the verb go. For example, We have to go back to the drawing board. You can also use it as a standalone comment. If a friend tells you their cake exploded in the oven, just say, Well, back to the drawing board! It shows you are ready to try a different way.
When To Use It
Use it in the office when a client rejects your proposal. Use it at home when a DIY repair makes the leak worse. It is perfect for texting a friend after a bad first date. It works well whenever a specific strategy fails. It implies that the goal is still important, but the method was wrong. It is a very common phrase in professional brainstorming sessions.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for tiny mistakes. If you drop a spoon, you do not go back to the drawing board. You just pick up the spoon. Also, avoid using it for serious personal tragedies. If someone loses a job, this phrase might sound too casual or cold. It is for plans, projects, and designs, not for grieving. Do not use it if you are giving up entirely. This phrase implies you will try again.
Cultural Background
This idiom comes from a famous 1941 cartoon by Peter Arno. The cartoon showed an engineer walking away from a crashed plane. He was carrying papers and saying, Well, back to the drawing board. It became a popular way for Americans to handle failure during World War II. It reflects a 'can-do' attitude. Even if things crash, we just start designing again. It is a very optimistic way to look at a mess.
Common Variations
You might hear people say start from scratch or back to square one. These mean almost the same thing. However, back to the drawing board specifically suggests a failure of design or logic. Some people just say back to the board in very fast office talk. Stick to the full version to sound more natural. It is a classic idiom that never goes out of style.
Notas de uso
The phrase is highly versatile and fits into almost any register except the most somber or tragic situations. It carries a tone of pragmatic acceptance of failure.
The 'Go' Rule
While you can just say the phrase alone, it almost always uses the verb `go`. Avoid saying `do the drawing board` or `make the drawing board`.
Don't be too dramatic
If you just need to change one small thing, don't use this. It implies a total restart. Using it for small fixes makes you sound like you're overreacting.
The 'Board' Secret
In modern offices, the 'drawing board' is usually a computer or a whiteboard, but we still use the old term from the days of paper blueprints!
Exemplos
6The ad didn't get any clicks, so it's back to the drawing board for the creative team.
The ad didn't get any clicks, so it's back to the drawing board for the creative team.
Used here to describe a professional pivot after a failed strategy.
This soup is way too salty to eat; I guess it's back to the drawing board!
This soup is way too salty to eat; I guess it's back to the drawing board!
A lighthearted way to admit a culinary failure.
She said no, so I guess it's back to the drawing board for my life plan.
She said no, so I guess it's back to the drawing board for my life plan.
Expresses a major life setback with a touch of irony.
The app keeps crashing. Back to the drawing board! 🤦♂️
The app keeps crashing. Back to the drawing board! 🤦♂️
Short, punchy usage common in digital communication.
Since the merger was blocked, we must go back to the drawing board regarding our expansion.
Since the merger was blocked, we must go back to the drawing board regarding our expansion.
Shows the phrase is appropriate for high-level business discussions.
I replaced the battery but it still won't start. Back to the drawing board.
I replaced the battery but it still won't start. Back to the drawing board.
Used when a specific solution doesn't solve the problem.
Teste-se
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about a failed project.
The client hated our first three ideas, so we have to go ___.
Since the ideas were rejected, the team needs to start the planning process over.
Identify the most natural verb to use with this idiom.
We need to ___ back to the drawing board before the deadline.
The most common and natural verb paired with this idiom is 'go'.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality Spectrum
Texting a friend after a burnt dinner.
Back to the drawing board! lol
Discussing a hobby or small project.
This garden layout isn't working; back to the drawing board.
Addressing a corporate failure.
We must return to the drawing board to revise our fiscal policy.
When to Start Over
Coding
The code has a fundamental bug.
Dating
The date was a total disaster.
Business
The product didn't sell any units.
DIY
The shelf fell off the wall.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasIt means starting a task or project over from the beginning because the previous attempt failed completely.
No, it is not rude. It shows that you recognize a failure and are willing to work on a new solution, which is a professional trait.
Not really. It is best saved for when a whole plan or concept fails. For a small typo, just say let me fix that.
Sometimes people just say Back to the board, but Back to the drawing board is the standard version everyone knows.
Actually, it means the opposite! It means you are going to try again with a better plan.
Yes, it is very common in professional emails. For example: The initial results were poor, so it's back to the drawing board for us.
They are very similar. Back to square one comes from board games, while drawing board feels more related to projects and designs.
Yes, it is widely used and understood in both American and British English.
Yes, return to is a slightly more formal version of go back to.
No, it is a standard idiom. It is safe to use in almost any setting, from a pub to a boardroom.
Frases relacionadas
Back to square one
To start over from the very beginning.
Start from scratch
To begin something from the beginning with no prepared materials.
Wipe the slate clean
To forget past mistakes and start over fresh.
Back to the salt mines
A humorous way to say you are going back to hard work.
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