nonstarter

[non-stahr-ter] /nɒnˈstɑr tər/

noun

an issue, plan, etc., that does not get or deserve to get under way.

Origin

1905-10

Examples from the web for nonstarter

But requiring professors who teach similar courses to all use the same textbook would be a nonstarter.
But if you're going after poor people, recruiting kids from higher socioeconomic backgrounds is an obvious nonstarter.
Without specific information on the source or the target, though, the topic was a nonstarter.
They've long argued that cap-and-trade was a political nonstarter.
Any talk of residuals, past or future, was simply a nonstarter.
Asking legislatures to centralize school funding at the state level was a political nonstarter.
The idea that you'll take complete control of the meal while you're a guest in her house is probably a nonstarter.
Allowing naps during breaks on overnight shifts was dismissed as a nonstarter.
We don't know what is and is not a political nonstarter.
If he proposes another stimulus bill along the lines as the last one, it will be a nonstarter, both economically and politically.

British Dictionary definitions for nonstarter

/nɒnˈstɑːtə/

noun

a horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been entered

a person or thing that is useless, has little chance of success, etc

Slang definitions & phrases for nonstarter

noun

A failure; also-ran, loser: The proposed travel book now seemed to be a nonstarter/ Compromises should be considered ''nonstarters'' (1909+)