| DEADDUCK | Plan or idea with no chance of success or survival (4,4) |
| NONSTARTERS | Ideas with no chance of success (3-8) |
| AUTHOR | Beginner or originator of a plan or idea (6) |
| REHASH | Employ (old items or ideas) with minimal changes |
| ITLLNEVERFLY | "That has no chance of success," or a fact about the start of each starred clue's answer |
| ALLISNOTLOST | There is still some chance of success, or recovery (3,2,3,4) |
| KIT | Word with "sewing" or "survival" |
| OPINIONATED | Narrow-minded and silly idea with no point (11) |
| ODDS | Chances of success or failure (4) |
| ONTHEMEND | Improving working idea with no date |
| ALLSLOST | Everyone at third casino cast lots with no chance of success (3-1,4) |
| HOPELESS | With no chance of success (8) |
| NOHOPERS | Futile writing to school for those with no chance of achieving their grades (2-6) |
| LONGSHOT | Pines for something stolen locally and has no chance of success (4,4) |
| CONCEIVE | Form an idea, with 'of' |
| THINKOUT | Calculate spin given to ball and have new ideas with the box (5,7) |
| CONFLATE | Combine ideas with Charlie, one gets even (8) |
| OUTOFTHERUNNING | Went off track, with no chance of success (3,2,3,7) |
| LOSTCAUSE | Something with no chance of success (4,5) |
| LOSTCAUSES | Undertakings with no chance of success (4,6) (4,6) |
