Reverse Dictionary: HOPELESS

​ADJECTIVES
► AERWENE hopeless, desperate → 1205 obs.
► ALL HOLIDAY AT PECKHAM all over, finished, hopeless → L18 sl.
► DEAD AS A DODO absolutely lifeless; entirely hopeless; defunct or out of date → 1904 sl.
► DEAD AS A DOOR-NAIL completely or certainly dead; absolutely lifeless; entirely hopeless → 1350 
► FUCKED in a difficult or hopeless situation → 1949 
► LIKE A DUCK IN A THUNDER-STORM having a forlorn and hopeless appearance → 1823 
► LIKE A DUCK IN THUNDER having a forlorn and hopeless appearance → 1786 
► LIKE A DYING DUCK IN A THUNDER-STORM having a forlorn and hopeless appearance → 1933 
► NO-HOPE of a person: hopeless, useless, unsuccessful → 1999 sl.
► NO-HOPING of a person: hopeless, useless → 1965 Aust. sl.
► NO-SOAP not possible or successful; hopeless → 1926 US & Can. sl.
► PAST PRAYING FOR hopeless → M19 colloq.
► TIRED hopeless → 1970 (Bk.)
► UP TO SHIT no good, hopeless → 1978 Aust. sl.
► WANELESS ► WANLESS hopeless → 1300 obs.
► WANHOPELY hopeless → 1425 obs.

NOUNS
► DEAD BIRD a hopeless case, situation, or person → 1900s US sl.
► DEAD CARD something that is hopeless or out of favour → 1899 US sl.
► GONE CASE a hopeless cause → 2002 Singapore
► NO GO a failure, something that is not good; a hopeless attempt → 1824 UK sl.
► NO-HOPER a hopeless case → 1943 US sl.
► UNDERTAKER’S JOB a hopeless (‘dead’) proposition → 1930s sl., orig. US
► WANHOPE despair, hopelessness → 1297 obs. exc. arch.
► WANHOPING loss of hope, hopelessness, despair → 1300 obs.

NOUNS, PERSON
► DEAD ASS one whose case is hopeless; a goner → 1968 US sl.
► DEAD BIRD a hopeless case, situation, or person → 1900s US sl.
► DEAD DUCK a person or thing doomed to failure or disaster; one whose case is hopeless → 1829 orig. US
► DEAD RABBIT a hopeless person, one who has absolutely no chance → 1900s sl.
► DEAD TURKEY a hopeless person; a person or thing that has absolutely no chance → 1940s sl.
► DRONGO a fool; a hopeless person → 1941 Aust. sl.
► NO-HOPER a hopeless person; a useless or incompetent person; someone or something doomed to failure → 1944 colloq.

PHRASES
► GONE A MILLION in a hopeless state → 20C 
► HE COULDN’T FART INTO A BOTTLE said of a hopeless, ineffectual person → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► HE COULDN’T FIGHT HIS WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG said of a hopeless, ineffectual person → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► HE COULDN’T GIVE AWAY CHEESE AT A RATS’ PICNIC utterly hopeless → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► HE COULDN’T WIN IF HE STARTED THE NIGHT BEFORE said of a hopeless individual or of a slow racehorse → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► IF HE BOUGHT A KANGAROO IT WOULDN’T HOP said of a hopeless or unlucky person → Aust. sl.1999 (Bk.)
► LIKE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYMOW a hopeless search → 1905 Amer. dial. (Bk.)
► ONE’S CAKE IS DOUGH one’s aim, hope, or expectation has failed or been thwarted; on is in a hopeless situation, ruined or done for → 1564 
► ONE’S MEAL IS DOUGH one’s aim, hope, or expectation has failed or been thwarted; on is in a hopeless situation, ruined or done for → 1721 obs.

VERBS
► BE ALL DAY WITH ONE to be a hopeless situation for someone → 1836 Amer. dial.
► HUNT FOR HARES WITH A TABOR to undertake an almost impossible or hopeless task → 1592 obs.