English Explanatory Dictionary

from scratch

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep_phrase
  1. From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation.
  2. From basic materials or raw ingredients.

Pronunciation

en-au-from scratch.ogg

Word forms

from scratch

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.

Related words

the ground up scratch-built scratch made
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