nonstarter
Idea going nowhere
A nonstarter is something that has no chance of succeeding or being accepted—an idea, proposal, or plan that fails before it begins.
Raising taxes is a political nonstarter.
The term comes from horse racing, where a nonstarter is an entered horse that doesn't run.
In broader use, it dismisses suggestions as not worth considering: That's a nonstarter for me.
Complete commercial failure
- dudFailed device or effort
- washoutComplete failure or cancellation
- fiascoHumiliating public failure
- debacleSudden, complete failure
bust · loser · dead duck · no-go · write-off · letdown · disappointment · misfire
Impossible to execute
- unfeasibleNot capable of execution
- unrealisticLacking basis in reality
- dead-endPassage without exit
- unviableIncapable of succeeding
untenable · pie-in-the-sky · no-hoper · lost cause · fool's errand · wild-goose chase · long shot · impossible
Official refusal to approve
- dismissalRemoval from position
- thumbs-downGesture signaling rejection
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- refusalAct of declining
rejection · denial · turndown · no-go · dealbreaker · showstopper · objection · blackball
flop
Complete commercial failure
debacle · bust · loser · dead duck · no-go · write-off · letdown · disappointment · misfire · collapse
unworkable
Impossible to execute
- unfeasibleNot capable of execution
- unrealisticLacking basis in reality
- dead-endPassage without exit
unviable · untenable · pie-in-the-sky · no-hoper · lost cause · fool's errand · wild-goose chase · long shot · impossible · hopeless case
veto
Official refusal to approve
- dismissalRemoval from position
- thumbs-downGesture signaling rejection
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
refusal · rejection · denial · turndown · no-go · dealbreaker · showstopper · objection · blackball · ruled out
- sidelinedbenched, shelved, sidetracked, put on hold, on hold
- dealbreakerscheating, infidelity, dishonesty, lying, abuse
- futilefutile, useless, pointless, fruitless, vain
- No-Gobanned, forbidden, off-limits, illegal, outlawed
nonstarterwinner
One who prevails
success · sure thing · slam dunk · shoo-in · safe bet
nonstartercontender
One competing seriously
front-runner · competitor · favorite · challenger · entrant