nonstarters
Ideas going nowhere
Nonstarters are things that have no chance of succeeding or being accepted.
A proposal that's a nonstarter won't even be considered: Universal basic income is a nonstarter with fiscal conservatives.
The term comes from horse racing, where a nonstarter is an entered horse that doesn't run.
Something dismissed as a nonstarter never gets out of the gate.
Beyond possibility of success
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- dead-endPassage without exit
- doomedDestined for destruction
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
waste of time · going nowhere · fruitless · useless · unworkable · impractical · pipe dream · fool's errand
Refused or diminished
- vetoedAuthoritatively rejected legislation
- refusedDeclined to accept
- dismissedReleased from duty
- turned downRefused or rejected
rebuffed · shot down · ruled out · rejected · denied · dead on arrival · no-go · thumbs-down
Not meeting required standards
- unsuitableNot fitting or appropriate
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- deficientHaving too little
substandard · below par · not up to scratch · falling short · lacking · wanting · unfit · incompatible
Unacceptable condition that ends talks
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- showstopperSpectacular crowd-pleasing performance
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
impediment · sticking point · snag · hurdle · bottleneck · impasse · catch · hitch
hopeless
Beyond possibility of success
lost cause · waste of time · going nowhere · fruitless · useless · unworkable · impractical · pipe dream · fool's errand · wild goose chase
declined
Refused or diminished
turned down · rebuffed · shot down · ruled out · rejected · denied · dead on arrival · no-go · thumbs-down · blackballed
unacceptable
Not meeting required standards
- unsuitableNot fitting or appropriate
- unqualifiedLacking required credentials
- insufficientBelow required quantity
deficient · substandard · below par · not up to scratch · falling short · lacking · wanting · unfit · incompatible · mismatched
dealbreaker
Unacceptable condition that ends talks
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- showstopperSpectacular crowd-pleasing performance
barrier · impediment · sticking point · snag · hurdle · bottleneck · impasse · catch · hitch · complication
nonstarterswinners
Those who prevail
sure things · frontrunners · goers · contenders · slam dunks
nonstartersstarters
Things that initiate
participants · competitors · entrants · contenders · runners