from scratch

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Adverb 1.2.1 Translations 1.2.2 Related terms 1.3 Quotations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From the scratch drawn in the ground serving as the starting line of a foot race. A runner “starting from scratch” received no handicap, but started at the beginning of the course.

[edit] Adverb

from scratch (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.

   She was out of pancake mix so she had to make the batter from scratch.

   There were so many errors in the program that the programmer decided to rewrite it from scratch.

   When the writer finished writing his book, it was stolen and now he has to rewrite it from scratch.

   He had no money and no rich friends, so he had to build his business from scratch.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• from the ground up
• scratch-built

[edit] Quotations

• 2002, The New Yorker

  He sat there Friday night and built an entire model ship from scratch.

• 1980, Cosmos, Carl Sagan

  If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.