Skip to main content

from scratch — starting from the very beginning without any previous work or preparation

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: starting from the very beginning without any previous work or preparation

Pronunciation (IPA): /frʌm skrætʃ/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother's cookies taste better because she makes them from scratch, unlike my mom who just opens a package.
  • After the computer virus, I had to rebuild my entire project from scratch.
  • He's so rich now, but he built his empire from scratch, starting with just a food truck.

from scratch

NOUN

[/frʌm skrætʃ/]

starting from the very beginning without any previous work or preparation

starting from the very beginning without any previous work or preparation
💡 Concept

starting from the very beginning without any previous work or preparation

Starting from scratch, she'll catch the taste that'll match!
🎵 Rhyme

Starting from scratch, she'll catch the taste that'll match!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/frʌm skrætʃ/
🇬🇧 UK/frɒm skrætʃ/

🌳Etymology

Origin

The phrase 'from scratch' originated in sports contexts, where 'scratch' referred to a line drawn or marked on the ground at the starting point of a race. The metaphorical extension to mean 'from the beginning' or 'from nothing' derives from the literal image of competitors starting from this marked line.

Breakdown

from (preposition, denoting origin or starting point) + scratch (noun, originally a line marked on the ground; from Middle English 'scratchen', to cut or scrape a surface).

🎵Rhyme

match
catch
patch

🔗Collocations

start from scratch
build from scratch
learn from scratch
cook from scratch
create from scratch
make from scratch
write from scratch

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My grandmother's cookies taste better because she makes them from scratch, unlike my mom who just opens a package.”

“After the computer virus, I had to rebuild my entire project from scratch.”

“He's so rich now, but he built his empire from scratch, starting with just a food truck.”

😄 Fun example

“Learning Korean from scratch is harder than I thought - I can't even read the menu!”

📚Related Words

Want to master 27,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.