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Back to Square One - meaning back to the beginning, originated in the 1930s when the first radio broadcasts of football matches were made by the BBC.To help listeners keep track of the game, The Radio Times devised a numbered grid system which they published in the magazine, enabling commentators to indicate to listeners exactly where the ball was on the pitch.
“Square One” was the goalkeeper’s area, and whenever the ball was passed back to him, play was referred to as being ‘back to square one’.
Source: 36 Unexpected Origins Of Everyday British Phrases
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