THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
From scratch
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
From the beginning, without using an existing version as a starting point.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We built the new timetable from scratch.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We built the new timetable ________.
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From scratch — From the beginning, without using an existing version as a starting point.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “From scratch” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
From the beginning, without using an existing version as a starting point.
Compare: We built the new timetable from scratch.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it for creating, building or learning something from the start. It suits everyday, study and workplace conversation.
More examples in context
- I made the sauce from scratch instead of using a ready-made jar.
- After losing the file, she had to write the report from scratch.
Usage note
Use from scratch without an article. It can describe a first attempt or a fresh start; it does not always mean an earlier attempt failed.
A short conversation
A: Can we adapt last year’s presentation?
B: The topic has changed completely, so we need to start from scratch.
A: Let us make a new outline.
One more practice question
Which cook makes a cake from scratch?
A. A cook who combines the basic ingredients to make it.
B. A cook who buys a finished cake and opens the box.
Check your answer
A. The cook begins with ingredients rather than an existing finished product.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.