What's the meaning of the phrase 'Back to square one'? ‘Back to square one’ is a classic of folk etymology. Although the origin is uncertain, no uncertainty lurks in the minds of those who are sure how, where and when it was derived. It ranks up there with ‘the whole nine yards‘ and ‘posh’ as an expression that people ‘know’ the origin of, when in fact they don’t. There are three widely reported s