start all over

[jctgf]

hi,
how do you say in english when something goes wrong and we need to start all over again?
its an expression with the word "sketch".
thanks.

 

[David L.]

'back to the drawing board'

 

[stuartnz]

hi,
how do you say in english when something goes wrong and we need to start all over again?
its an expression with the word "sketch".
thanks.

I'm not a teacher, but I think the expression you're after is, "start from scratch".

 

[riverkid]

hi,
how do you say in english when something goes wrong and we need to start all over again?
its an expression with the word "sketch".
thanks.

I can't think of anything with that meaning that has "sketch" in it, JC, but here are some others with a similar meaning.

[let's] take it from the top / be back to the beginning / be back to square one

Oh, something just came to mind, If things are "sketchy", that means that a plan/something isn't working well, the necessary details are well-known.

 

[riverkid]

Stuart's nailed 'er. How come I missed such an easy one, with such a huge hint?

 

[stuartnz]

How come I missed such an easy one, with such a huge hint?

The advantage of speaking Zild is that one is ALWAYS being told that one's accent is incomprehensible, making the jump from "sketch" to "scratch" a tiny shuffle rather than a huge leap.:-D

 

[jctgf]

Stuart's nailed 'er. How come I missed such an easy one, with such a huge hint?

hi river,
i am used to hearing it on the movies. it's a sentence with 'from s...tch'.
Stuart has just suggested 'start from scratch' and i think that's what i want.
sometimes my foreigner ears/brain can't distinguish perfectly a word from the other: 'sketch' and 'scratch' may sound similar to me, depending on the situation.
i wonder if 'start from scratch' is a common expression in Canada!
thanks

 

[jctgf]

hi!
it's me again.
the funny thing is that - to my foreigner brain - "sketch" should fit the expression perfectly.
isn't ''sketch'' a draft, a initial plan or design?
i think now that's why i have always "heard" it incorrectly. i have associated the expression with a word that seemed to be a perfect fit to me.
very interesting!
regards

 

[stuartnz]

hi!
it's me again.
the funny thing is that - to my foreigner brain - "sketch" should fit the expression perfectly.
isn't ''sketch'' a draft, a initial plan or design?
i think now that's why i have always "heard" it incorrectly. i have associated the expression with a word that seemed to be a perfect fit to me.
very interesting!
regards

I think in this context, "scratch" is a synonym of "zero". So, "start from nothing", start all over again". When golfers reach a handicap of zero, they are termed "scratch golfers".