non-starters
Ideas going nowhere
Non-starters are ideas, proposals, or options that have no chance of succeeding or being accepted.
The term comes from horse racing—a horse entered in a race but withdrawn before the start.
In everyday use, calling something a non-starter dismisses it outright: Raising taxes is a political non-starter.
The offer was a non-starter from the beginning.
Unacceptable conditions ending agreements
- unacceptableNot meeting required standards
- dismissedReleased from duty
- ruled outDismissed as impossible
- vetoedAuthoritatively rejected legislation
rejected · off the table · no-go · unworkable · dead on arrival · DOA · disqualified · unviable
Formal offers or plans
- suggestionsProposed ideas or advice
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
- pitchesThrows or proposals
- plansIntended courses of action
schemes · notions · recommendations · initiatives · approaches · solutions · brainstorms · submissions
Those seeking to win
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
- entrantsThose who join in
- hopefulsPeople seeking success
runners · participants · qualifiers · also-rans · underdogs · longshots · eliminated · disqualified
Forceful requests or requirements
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- termsConditions of an agreement
- ultimatumsFinal non-negotiable demands
- prerequisitesNecessary prior conditions
stipulations · concessions · walkaway · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · bottom line · red lines
dealbreakers
Unacceptable conditions ending agreements
- unacceptableNot meeting required standards
- dismissedReleased from duty
- ruled outDismissed as impossible
vetoed · rejected · off the table · no-go · unworkable · dead on arrival · DOA · disqualified · unviable · untenable
proposals
Formal offers or plans
- suggestionsProposed ideas or advice
- conceptsAbstract mental constructs
- pitchesThrows or proposals
plans · schemes · notions · recommendations · initiatives · approaches · solutions · brainstorms · submissions · drafts
contenders
Those seeking to win
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- competitorsThose seeking same goal
- entrantsThose who join in
hopefuls · runners · participants · qualifiers · also-rans · underdogs · longshots · eliminated · disqualified · withdrawn
demands
Forceful requests or requirements
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- termsConditions of an agreement
- ultimatumsFinal non-negotiable demands
prerequisites · stipulations · concessions · walkaway · impasse · deadlock · stalemate · bottom line · red lines · bargaining
- Nobodiesnobodies, nonentities, unknowns, zeroes, ciphers
- nonproblemsnonissues, trifles, trivia, molehills, false alarms
non-starterswinners
Those who prevail
sure things · slam dunks · no-brainers · contenders · shoo-ins
non-starterssuccesses
Favorable outcomes achieved
runners · goers · hits · breakthroughs · triumphs
non-startersfront-runners
Leaders in a competition
rising stars · up-and-comers · breakthroughs · game-changers · innovations
non-starter, start, starter, starters, starts, started, starting, restart, restarted