UNSUCCESSFUL
ADJECTIVES
► AT THE RACES unsuccessful, uncompetitive → 2003 Irish sl.
► DEAD LOSS useless, unsuccessful, unprofitable → 1920s sl.
► ILL-FARED unlucky, unsuccessful → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► NO CIGAR not being a winning or successful effort, as if not good enough to earn a cigar as a prize → colloq.
► NOT IN THE RACE not having any chance of success → 1904 Aust. sl.
NOUNS
► BOBBLE an unsuccessful undertaking; a failure → 1920 Amer. dial.
► BOSS-SHOT an unsuccessful attempt → 1898 Eng. dial.
► CRULLER a failure; an unsuccessful performance or entertainment → 1974 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DEAD DUCK an absolute failure; a person or thing with no possibility of success → 1829 US sl.
► DUD a worthless or unsuccessful thing; a failure → 1915 UK sl.
► LOW-LIGHT a thing or aspect of a thing that is weak, unsuccessful, or not of the requisite standard; esp. the worst part, or lowest point or moment of something 1882
► NO-HOPER something which is unlikely to be successful or to bring success → 1976 colloq.
► NON STARTER something or someone that has no chance of success → 1934 UK sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► COLD WIRE an unsuccessful or unlikable person → 1941 US sl.
► DEAD DUCK an absolute failure; a person or thing with no possibility of success → 1829 US sl.
► DUD a worthless or unsuccessful person; a failure → 1915 UK sl.
► HACKER a generally unsuccessful person → 2006 US sl. (Bk.)
► NEVER-WAS a person who has never achieved success or popularity → 1930 US sl.
► NEVER-WASER a person who has never achieved success or popularity → 1891 US sl.
► NEVER-WUZZER a person who has never achieved success or popularity → 1922 US sl.
► NON STARTER something or someone that has no chance of success → 1934 UK sl.
PHRASES
► THAT COCK WON’T FIGHT that won’t succeed → 1984 Amer. dial.
► THAT DOG WON’T HUNT used to express the opinion that a particular plan or approach will not succeed → 1912 US colloq.
VERBS
► BRING ONE’S EGGS TO A FAIR MARKET to be unsuccessful in a venture; chiefly ironic → 1615 obs.
► BRING ONE’S HOGS TO A FAIR MARKET to be unsuccessful in a venture; chiefly ironic → 1600 obs.
► BRING ONE’S PIGS TO A FINE MARKET to be disappointed or unsuccessful in a venture; chiefly ironic usage → 1693
► BUY THE RABBIT to be unsuccessful or have misfortune; to get the worst of a deal, to fare badly → 1807 sl.
► CRAP OUT to be unsuccessful, to lose out, to lose; to fail → 1891 US sl.
► FLICKER UP to fail to be unsuccessful → 1903 Amer. dial.
► GET SKUNKED to be totally unsuccessful in an endeavour → 1942 Amer. dial.
► ILL-FARE to fare badly, to meet with ill-success → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MISFORE to be unsuccessful or unfortunate; to miscarry → 1804 Sc.
► MIS-SPEED to be unsuccessful or unlucky → a1387 obs.
► PUSH A TURD UPHILL WITH A TOOTHPICK to work, talk, etc. unsuccessfully, against the odds → 20C US sl.
► PUSH SHIT UPHILL to work, talk, etc. unsuccessfully, against the odds → 20C US sl.
Lexicophilia 