back to square one 退回起點(diǎn);從頭再來
該習(xí)語源自擲色子游戲。當(dāng)擲出某個(gè)特定的號(hào)碼時(shí)要受罰,于是還要重新再擲。該習(xí)語即指“無所進(jìn)展,退回起點(diǎn)”,進(jìn)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(jì)好了嗎?
B: We are back to square one now. 我們正在重新設(shè)計(jì)。
A: Back to square one? What’s the matter? 重新設(shè)計(jì)? 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(jì)好了,但現(xiàn)在決定使用便宜點(diǎn)的材料,所以只得從頭再來。
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