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Glite Dictionary
where we came in

where we came in

1 9.2
The point when a situation returns to its starting point
  • idiom
translation icon : donde empezamos
  • After discussing the changes, the project has returned to where we came in.

Examples

  • That's where we came in.

    The World of Suzie Wong (1960)

  • - Initially, this was where we came in, right?

    Grave Encounters (2011)

  • This is where we came in.

    Blog text (4)

  • This is where we come in...

    Blog text (6)

  • During the meeting, we realized that we were right back at where we came in before the last decision.

  • It's ironic how the discussion ended up at where we came in after all the back and forth.

Synonyms

full circle
vswhere we came in
33 4.1

A return to the situation where something began after changes

focuses on the exact moment or point when the situation returns

Antonyms

progress
∞ 2.5

Forward change toward a goal or better state

fresh start
52 3.2

A chance to begin again after problems

Surface Forms

where we came in main

Morphology

where + we + come + in

The phrase is directly compositional: 'came in' = entered/started and 'where' locates that point, so 'where we came in' denotes the place or point at which we started. This spatial/metaphorical mapping (returning to the starting point) is a straightforward combination of the constituents and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Where we came in gives a simple picture: imagine you enter a room and, after walking around, you end up at the same door you first came in. So it is used when a situation or story ends up 'back to the start'.