Be at square one
be at square one
related terms
go back to square one
verb phrase
to be forced to return to one’s starting point, usually after a waste of effort; make a new beginning
related terms
back to square one, square one
[1960+; probably fr the first or starting square of a board game; an elaborate suggestion that it refers to a british grid system for locating places on the soccer field, for radio broadcasting of games, cannot be verified]
Read Also:
- Beaver cloth
beaver1 (def 8).
- Be big on
large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quant-ty. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem. outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field. grown-up; mature: big enough to know […]
- Be bold
not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring: a bold hero. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent: he apologized for being so bold as to speak to the emperor. necessitating courage and daring; challenging: a bold adventure. beyond the usual limits of […]
- Be bound to
see: bound to
- Be busted
also, go bust. become bankrupt, financially ruined. for example, who knew that the brokerage firm would be busted? [ ; early 1800s ] also see: under go broke also, get busted. be demoted, as in if you’re caught gambling you’ll get busted to private. this usage originated in the military and still most often denotes […]