# “Don’t Reinvent the Wheel”: Meaning + When to Say It

> Building something from scratch when a working solution already exists.

- **Term:** reinventing the wheel
- **Part of speech:** idiom (verb phrase)
- **Pronunciation:** /ˌriːɪnˈventɪŋ ðə wiːl/
- **English level (CEFR):** B1–B2
- **Register:** Neutral, Both
- **Region:** US and UK
- **Topic:** [Code and Git terms](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/topics/software-development-terms.md)
- **Lesson:** https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/reinventing-the-wheel
- **Last updated:** 2026-10-27

## Meaning

Building something from scratch when a working solution already exists.

In workplace discussions, engineers invoke this phrase when someone proposes building functionality that already exists elsewhere. You'll hear it during code reviews when a teammate suggests writing a custom authentication system instead of using an established library, in standups when discussing project scope, or during interviews when candidates describe overly complex solutions. The term gently flags inefficiency without being harsh. For instance, a senior might comment, "We could use Django's built-in validation rather than reinventing the wheel with custom regex patterns." A common mistake learners make is using this phrase too broadly—sometimes building a tailored solution is justified even if something similar exists, especially when requirements differ significantly. Context matters: reinventing the wheel is wasteful only when the existing tool genuinely solves your problem. The phrase isn't about being lazy; it's about respecting engineering time and avoiding unnecessary technical debt.

## When you hear it

Used in code reviews, Slack discussions, standups, and planning meetings. Appropriate in both casual and semi-formal contexts.

## Examples

- **Standup:** "I spent yesterday on the date formatter, but then realized I was reinventing the wheel—there's already a util for that."
- **Slack message:** "Hey, just a heads up—we might be reinventing the wheel here. Check out the shared-components repo first."
- **GitHub PR:** "This looks like we're reinventing the wheel. Have you considered using lodash for this functionality?"
- **Jira ticket:** "Before starting this task, verify we're not reinventing the wheel—similar functionality may exist in the auth module."
- **Retrospective:** "We wasted a sprint reinventing the wheel when we could have used an open-source solution."
- **Sprint planning:** "Let's make sure we're not reinventing the wheel—can someone research existing tools first?"
- **Pair programming:** "Hold on, are we reinventing the wheel? I think React has a built-in hook for this."

## What native speakers say

- "No need to reinvent the wheel here—let's just use the existing library."
- "Before you build that, check if we're reinventing the wheel."
- "Why reinvent the wheel when there's already an npm package for this?"
- "I think we're reinventing the wheel with this custom solution."
- "Let's not reinvent the wheel—the platform already handles that."

## Common mistakes

- ✗ "We should reinvent the wheel to save time." → ✓ "We shouldn't reinvent the wheel—it'll save time." (Reinventing the wheel is always presented as negative/wasteful. You avoid it to save time, not do it.)
- ✗ "I reinvented the wheel and found a great library." → ✓ "I avoided reinventing the wheel by using an existing library." (Reinventing the wheel means building your own, not finding something that exists.)
- ✗ "Let's reinvent the wheel on this feature." → ✓ "Let's not reinvent the wheel on this feature." (The phrase is almost always used with 'don't' or 'stop'—it's rarely positive.)

## Be careful

Saying someone is "reinventing the wheel" can sound critical—soften it with "I think we might be..." in code reviews.

## Word forms

| Part of speech | Word | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| verb phrase (gerund) | reinventing the wheel | We're reinventing the wheel with this custom parser. |
| verb phrase (infinitive) | reinvent the wheel | There's no need to reinvent the wheel. |
| noun phrase | wheel reinvention | This is classic wheel reinvention—just use the SDK. |


## Collocations

- **don't reinvent the wheel**: Most common form—advice to use existing solutions
- **stop reinventing the wheel**: Direct instruction, often in code review
- **no need to reinvent the wheel**: Polite suggestion that a solution exists
- **why reinvent the wheel**: Rhetorical question challenging the approach
- **avoid reinventing the wheel**: Used in planning or documentation

## Synonyms

- **start from scratch**: More neutral—doesn't imply waste like 'reinventing the wheel'
- **duplicate effort**: Formal alternative, often used in project management
- **rebuild something that exists**: Direct description without the idiom
- **write custom code**: Neutral description—can be good or bad depending on context

## Opposites

- leverage existing solutions
- reuse code
- use off-the-shelf
- build on top of

## Practice

This lesson has 4 practice exercises with instant feedback on the page: https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/reinventing-the-wheel

## FAQ

### Is 'reinventing the wheel' always negative?

Yes, almost always. The phrase implies wasted effort. If you want to describe building something new in a positive way, say 'building from scratch' or 'creating a custom solution' instead.

### How do I politely tell someone they're reinventing the wheel?

Use softening phrases: 'I think we might be reinventing the wheel here—have you checked if X library does this?' Or: 'Just a thought—there might be an existing solution for this.'

### Can I use 'reinventing the wheel' in a code review?

Yes, it's common in code reviews. You might write: 'This looks like we're reinventing the wheel. Consider using [library name] instead.' It's direct but accepted.

### What's the difference between 'reinventing the wheel' and 'not invented here syndrome'?

'Reinventing the wheel' describes the action of rebuilding something that exists. 'Not invented here syndrome' describes the attitude or bias against using external solutions.

### When is it okay to reinvent the wheel?

Sometimes teams intentionally build custom solutions for learning, control, or specific requirements. In those cases, people usually acknowledge it: 'I know we're reinventing the wheel, but we need full control over this component.'

### How do I use this phrase in a standup?

You might say: 'I realized I was reinventing the wheel, so I switched to using the existing utility.' Or: 'Before I continue, I want to check if we're reinventing the wheel here.'


## Related

- [boilerplate](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/boilerplate.md)
- [technical debt](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/technical-debt.md)
- [refactor](https://app.speaktechenglish.com/learn/refactor.md)
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