美国习惯用语 | back to the drawing board 从头开始

a drawing board是制图板。back to the drawing board的字面意思是回到制图板去,实际上它的意思是“从头开始”。

我们都知道,盖房子或制造机器的第一步就是要制图。所以,back to the drawing board常常用来表示从头开始。比如说一个公司为了要提高利润,叫雇员们提出各种建议。但是老板认为这些都行不通, 要大家从头来。

  • The boss sent them back to the drawing board.

我们再来举一个例子。大家都知道, 美国的可口可乐公司1985年推出一种新的可乐,可是销路并不好。谈起这件事, 有个人是这样说的:

  • In 1985, the Coca-Cola Company introduced New Coke after giving their most popular product a new taste. But drinkers across the country felt betrayed and rejected it. So the company went back to the drawing board. Their next idea, however, was a success - the return of their original formula, called Coca-Cola Classic.
    美国可口可乐公司1985年改变了该公司最畅销的饮料可口可乐的味道,推出了新可乐。可是全国各地喝可乐的人都不喜欢,觉得可乐公司背叛了他们。可口可乐公司只好从头来。他们重新用原来的配方,推出了称为传统可乐的饮料。这一次非常成功。

新可乐就这样很快消失了。这可以说是商业史上的一次重大失败。幸亏可乐公司及时放弃、从头再来,back to the drawing board,否则损失会更大。

有时候,失败是成功之母, back to the drawing board,反而会带来更大的成功。有个美式足球运动员说,他们球队就是在失败后再从头开始,反败为胜的。

  • The beginning of the season was a disaster as our opponents kept outmaneuvering us. It was back to the drawing board! After coming up with some brilliant new plays, we started scoring touchdowns again. Soon we were on a winning streak.
    赛季一开始,我们对手以计谋取胜,使我们输得一塌糊涂。我们只好从头开始。后来我们想出了一些高明的新战术,我们又开始触地得分,很快就接接取胜。