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UKfrom scratch
/fɹɒm skɹˈatʃ/
/fɹʌm skɹˈætʃ/from scratch
[PHRASE]
What is the origin of the idiom "from scratch" and when to use it?
The phrase "from scratch" originated as a cooking term, meaning to start a recipe using only basic ingredients like flour, sugar, and eggs. It implies that the cook is making everything from the very beginning, rather than using a pre-made mix or other shortcuts. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more broadly to describe starting any sort of project or task with no prior preparation or assistance. It suggests that the person or team must start with the very basics and build up from there.
Examples
1. This is where everything gets made into the book from scratch.
2. Over in the bread bakery, they make 40 different kinds of bread from all over the world, all from scratch.
3. The 10-acre estate was built from scratch for Woods and features a pitch-and-putt golf course, as well as a private dock.
4. It's a lot easier and quicker to start with a tried and true platform and make modifications to it to convert into an unmanned aircraft than is to start from scratch.
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