Back to the drawing board

“Back to the drawing board” is an idiom that means going back to the beginning or starting over because the previous attempt or plan was unsuccessful or didn’t work out as expected. It’s like hitting a roadblock and needing to come up with a new approach or solution. The phrase originated from the process of designing and creating things, particularly in engineering and architecture. In the past, when people needed to design something, like a building or a machine, they would often start by sketching their ideas on a drawing board. If the initial design didn’t meet the requirements or had flaws, they would have to go back to the drawing board and start the design process again. In modern usage, “back to the drawing board” is used in various contexts, not just in design. It can be applied to any situation where a plan or attempt fails and requires a fresh start.