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Meaning & use

make a fresh start

phrase·Everyday

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UK/ˌmeɪk ə ˌfreʃ ˈstɑːt/
US/ˌmeɪk ə ˌfreʃ ˈstɑːrt/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiom

    to begin something again in a new and better way, usually after a failure or a difficult period

    Grammar: Used as a complete verb phrase with no object: After the divorce, she made a fresh start.

    Patterns

    • make a fresh start
    • make a fresh start in something
    • make a fresh start after something

    After losing his job, he decided to make a fresh start in a new city.

    The team made a fresh start this season with a new coach and new players.

    She wanted to make a fresh start and forget about the mistakes of the past.

  2. phraseidiom

    to begin a new period of your life in a different way, especially after a change such as moving or ending a relationship

    Grammar: Often used with in or after to say where or when the new beginning happens.

    Patterns

    • make a fresh start in a place
    • make a fresh start after a relationship ends

    They sold their house and made a fresh start in the countryside.

    After the breakup, she made a fresh start and moved to another town.

Common combinations

make a fresh start in life
He saw the new job as a chance to make a fresh start in life.
make a fresh start after a divorce
Many people make a fresh start after a divorce.
want to make a fresh start
I want to make a fresh start and leave the past behind.
decide to make a fresh start
They decided to make a fresh start in a different country.
help someone make a fresh start
The charity helps homeless people make a fresh start.

Synonyms and how they differ

start over
This is more informal and is used especially in American English; it often suggests beginning the same activity again from the beginning.
begin anew
This is more formal or literary and sounds more dramatic than make a fresh start.
turn over a new leaf
This means to change your behavior for the better, often after doing something wrong; it focuses on behavior, not just a new situation.

Commonly confused: make a fresh start or fresh start?

make a fresh start vs fresh start

Fresh start is a noun phrase meaning a new beginning, while make a fresh start is the verb phrase. You can say 'It was a fresh start' but not 'It was a make a fresh start'.

Practice

After the accident, Tom wanted to ______ and move to another city.

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