Go the same way we came IN?

[Ashraful Haque]

We were in a shopping mall and we lost our way. So can I say "We should go the (same) way we came in" to mean that we should take the same route that we took while coming in?

And when we're not 'in' a place, for example if we're driving/walking on the sidewalk should we say "we should go the (same) way we came" without the 'in?'

Lastly does 'same' add anything extra to this expression?

 

[emsr2d2]

In the first, you should use "We should go out the same way we came in". (Although, technically, that's impossible - you have to go out in the reverse direction!)
In the second, I'd say "We should go back the same way we came". (Same technical issue as the first but you'll still hear it.)

 

[Ashraful Haque]

In the first, you should use "We should go out the same way we came in". (Although, technically, that's impossible - you have to go out in the reverse direction!)

What if I am looking for a store that I think we might have missed on our way in? In this case can I say "we should go back the same way we came in?"

And can I drop the 'same' and mean the same thing?

[video]https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/71c504da-b019-4675-9143-0164e10c4c4e[/video]

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It means the same thing either way.

But looking for a store you missed has nothing to do with it.

 

[Rover_KE]

You could say 'Shall we retrace our steps?'

 

[jutfrank]

We were in a shopping mall and we lost our way. So can I say "We should go the (same) way we came in" to mean that we should take the same route that we took while coming in?

Yes.

And when we're not 'in' a place, for example if we're driving/walking on the sidewalk should we say "we should go the (same) way we came" without the 'in?'

Yes.

Lastly does 'same' add anything extra to this expression?

It adds an emphasis and clarity of meaning, yes, but omitting it wouldn't change the sense of what you say. (I assume that's what you're asking.)

 

[Ashraful Haque]

In the first, you should use "We should go out the same way we came in". (Although, technically, that's impossible - you have to go out in the reverse direction!)
In the second, I'd say "We should go back the same way we came". (Same technical issue as the first but you'll still hear it.)

I understand the first one as shopping malls usually have separate entry and exit points.
But for the second one, If I'm somewhere I don't know, can't a friend tell me "just go back the same way you came here?"