Começar do zero.

The Portuguese expression 'começar do zero' literally translates to 'to start from zero.' This idiom reflects a concept common across many languages, where 'zero' symbolizes a starting point devoid of any prior progress, accumulation, or advantage. The idea of 'starting from zero' or 'starting from scratch' implies beginning with nothing, with a clean slate, or without any pre-existing foundation. It suggests a fresh beginning, often after a failure, a complete change of direction, or in a situation where one has no prior experience or resources. The phrase emphasizes the fundamental nature of the beginning, highlighting that everything must be built up from the very initial stage. The numerical 'zero' is universally understood as the absence of quantity, thus making it a potent symbol for a beginning point without any pre-existing elements. This idiom likely developed independently in various languages as a natural linguistic representation of this universal concept of a fresh start. While a specific singular origin in Portuguese is difficult to pinpoint without extensive historical linguistic research, its structure and meaning are deeply rooted in the practical understanding of starting from a baseline or an empty state. Similar expressions exist in English ('start from scratch,' 'start from square one'), Spanish ('empezar de cero'), French ('commencer à zéro'), and many other languages, indicating a shared human experience of needing to sometimes rebuild or initiate endeavors without any prior advantage or foundation.