Back-to-square-one Definition

adjective

(idiomatic) Located back at the start, as after a dead-end or failure.

After spending six hours on the intake we realized that there was nothing wrong with it, so we are back to square one.

Wiktionary

adverb

(idiomatic) Back to the start, as after a dead-end or failure.

After spending six hours on the intake we realized that there was nothing wrong with it, so we went back to square one.

Wiktionary

Origin of Back-to-square-one

1952, from children’s game snakes and ladders, possibly influenced by hopscotch.

From Wiktionary

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