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From scratch: meaning and explanation

If you do something from scratch, then you do it from the beginning, or from nothing.

For example, if you cook something from scratch, then you cook it entirely yourself and with no preprepared ingredients.

Here's an example (the speaker has an North American accent):

, . .

About the sentence

...there's no way...

If you say there's no way something happened, or no way someone did something, you are saying that it is not possible.

e.g. There's no way he could have passed that exam without doing any work. He must have cheated.

Here's another example in an Irish accent:

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The expression from scratch is used when talking about having to start or restart something from the beginning - often in a negative sense.

Here's an example in an RP accent:

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Here's another example (North American accent):

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Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • When was the last time you had to start a project or task from scratch? What was the project, and how did you begin?
  • Why might it be important to learn how to create or build things from scratch? How does this skill contribute to personal or professional development?
  • Do you normally cook things from scratch, or buy ready made meals/ingredients?

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