General
reinvent the wheel
What does reinvent the wheel mean?
To waste effort creating something from scratch when a proven solution exists.
"Don't reinvent the wheel, reuse the template from last year."
Origin
Idiom referencing the wheel as a settled invention.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'reinvent the wheel' mean?
It means to waste time building something from scratch when a working, established solution already exists.
When do people say it?
Usually as advice to reuse existing work, e.g. 'No need to reinvent the wheel, just copy the old process.'
Is it a compliment or criticism?
It's a mild criticism of inefficiency, or a caution against doing unnecessary work.
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