non-starter Hear it!

non-starter Definition

non-starter (nän′stärt′ər)

noun

  1. an expected occurrence, project, etc. that fails to materialize
  2. a worthless idea

non-starter Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • seem: Given the strongly expressed opposition to the scheme at the meeting on 5th June that seems a non-starter.

Preposition: for

  • mind: God bless Jean Your comment is a non-starter for the secular mind.

Adjective modifier

  • complete: Trying to get explicit mention of these groups was a complete non-starter.
  • total: For shoppers the facility is probably a total non-starter too, unless they are going into town to buy a pencil sharpener!
  • definite: Outside she decided her showy black number was a definite non-starter.
  • political: For ten years now, it's been an assumption that tax rises were a political non-starter.
  • obvious: Screening is an essentially subjective procedure in which managers use their knowledge and experience to weed out obvious non-starters.
  • few: DRAMA BEFORE THE START There were a few notable non-starters.

Preposition: in

  • race: Magnus Linklater © Scotsman on Sunday Further Reading Recommended by Land-Care " Britain is a non-starter in the race to cure Sars " .