bæk tuː ðə ˈdrɔːɪŋ bɔrd
Business
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Returning to the board where designs are drawn
What does "back to the drawing board" mean?
- Starting again from the beginning because a plan failed
- Needing to make a completely new plan
Examples
- The client rejected our proposal, so it's back to the drawing board.
- When the experiment failed, the scientists went back to the drawing board.
- After three failed attempts, they decided to go back to the drawing board.
Origin
Popularized by cartoonist Peter Arno in The New Yorker (1941), showing a designer walking away from a crashed plane. The drawing board is where architects and engineers create initial plans.
How to use it
Very common in professional contexts. Often used when a plan or design needs complete revision rather than minor adjustments.
Similar expressions
back to square one
start from scratch
begin again
Opposites
mission accomplished
success
Related idioms
- on the same page
In agreement or having the same understanding
- cut to the chase
To get to the point without wasting time
- hit the ground running
To start a new job or activity with immediate effectiveness
- in the loop
Included in the flow of information
- the bottom line
The most important point or factor
- get up to speed
To become fully informed about a situation
Use it in a practice answer
Try "back to the drawing board" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.