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to start fresh

to start fresh

26 3.6
Begin again without bringing past problems
  • phrasal verb
  • /stɑrt frɛʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : empezar de cero
  • She moved to a new city to start fresh and leave her past behind.
  • start fresh in the morning
  • start fresh tomorrow
  • start fresh with a new

And so I'm equally grateful to have left and I've been able to start fresh in Los Angeles.

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Examples

Synonyms

to start over
vsto start fresh
283 2.5

To do something again from the start after a mistake or problem

focuses on a new beginning that leaves past problems and burdens behind
to start a new life
vsto start fresh
25 3.5

To begin living in a very different place or way after a big change

describes a broad new beginning that removes past problems and burdens
to go back to the drawing board
vsto start fresh
  • Informal
9 4.2

Start again from the beginning when a plan or idea fails

means beginning again while leaving prior problems or burdens behind
to wipe the slate clean
vsto start fresh
  • Informal
8 5.0

To start fresh by forgetting past mistakes and problems

focuses on leaving problems behind, not only on mental forgetting
to start with a clean sheet
vsto start fresh
  • Informal
4.4

Do something new and not worry about past mistakes

begins again while leaving previous problems and burdens behind

Antonyms

14 3.5

To move something from one time or situation to a later one

How New

to wipe the slate clean
  • Informal
8 5.0
to start fresh
  • Informal
26 3.6
to start over
283 2.5
to try again
461 1.0

Surface Forms

start fresh infinitive
started fresh past participle
starting fresh present participle
starts fresh third person singular

Morphology

start + fresh

The meaning 'to begin again without carrying over previous problems' is a direct, literal combination of 'start' (to begin) and 'fresh' (new/not previously used). This compositional, cross-linguistically common pattern follows standard English adjective + verb semantics and would be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Start fresh paints a simple picture: you wipe a whiteboard or open a new page so you start with something fresh and clean. So it means 'to begin again' without bringing old problems.