| NONSTARTERS | Ideas with no chance of success (3-8) |
| DEADDUCK | Plan or idea with no chance of success or survival (4,4) |
| OPINIONATED | Narrow-minded and silly idea with no point (11) |
| BOUNDTOFAIL | With no chance of success |
| OUTOFTHERUNNING | Went off track, with no chance of success (3,2,3,7) |
| HOPELESS | With no chance of success (8) |
| NONSTARTER | Something with no chance of success (3-7) |
| ALLSLOST | Everyone at third casino cast lots with no chance of success (3-1,4) |
| LOSTCAUSE | Something with no chance of success |
| LOSTCAUSES | Undertakings with no chance of success (4,6) (4,6) |
| SNAPOUTOFIT | With no chance at card game, suddenly give up |
| ACADEMICIAN | Scholar develops a manic idea with maximum speed |
| NOTINTHERUNNING | With no chance of being successful or winning (3,2,3,7) |
| DOA | With no chance of revival (abbr) (3) |
| HELPLESSLY | Sly spell he cast with no chance of defence |
| SHOPAHOLIC | One suffers with no chance of treatment in store (10) |
| IDIOTPROOF | I had one rooftop rebuilt, with no chance of failure |
| CLOUDLESS | Such a day is sure to be sunny with no chance of rain (9) |
| NOHOPERS | Futile writing to school for those with no chance of achieving their grades (2-6) |
| OUTOF | _ _ the running: having little or no chance of success? (3,2) |