to nuke the fridge
- idiom
- Slang
:
empezar de nuevo
- When the storyline got too complicated, the writers chose to nuke the fridge and reboot the entire series.
Examples
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After several failed attempts to fix the code, the team decided to nuke the fridge and rewrite the program.
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The new product launch went so poorly that management wanted to nuke the fridge and start fresh with a new concept.
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Let's just nuke the fridge and start fresh!
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After the failed project, they decided to nuke the fridge.
-
After several failed attempts to fix the code, the team decided to nuke the fridge and rewrite the program.
-
The new product launch went so poorly that management wanted to nuke the fridge and start fresh with a new concept.
-
When the storyline got too complicated, the writers chose to nuke the fridge and reboot the entire series.
Synonyms
477
1.8
To get rid of something you do not want, for example by putting it in the bin
202
1.8
To put something in the trash because you do not want it
189
4.2
Destroy something so nothing is left
130
2.7
To throw something away because you no longer want or need it
91
3.1
Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty
91
3.2
Empty a place or container by removing everything inside
11
6.7
To tear something into pieces or throw it away and start again
To throw something away and stop using it
Antonyms
How Abandoned
- Slang
30
3.7
401
3.8
∞
1.2
310
1.0
22
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'nuke' (to obliterate) combined with 'fridge' gives a literal image of destroying a fridge, so learners who know the words can infer a sense of destruction or discarding. However, the specific idiomatic sense 'to abandon or start over' is a metaphorical, culture-bound extension (film/pop-culture origin) and is not fully predictable from the parts, so prior exposure is typically needed.
Etymology
Nuke the fridge comes from a famous movie scene where Indiana Jones hides inside a metal fridge during a nuclear blast and the blast sends the whole fridge flying. Because viewers saw this as a wild, extreme way to fix a story, people now say nuke the fridge when they 'abandon' something or 'start over' completely.