no-hoper

no +‎ hope +‎ -er

no-hoper (plural no-hopers)

1. Someone or something that has no hope of success.
   • 1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 4:

     Francis Urquhart: Six days to the first ballot. Who are we up against?
     Tim Stamper: Mackenzie, Earle, Woolton, Samuels, and three no-hopers: Bairsted, Llewellyn-Jones-Rhys, and Bogg.

   • 2000 March 12, Stuart Barnes, “Swindon stunner for Curbishley”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     After 12 successive league wins […] Charlton were nobbled by the First Division's no-hopers, who profited from a goalkeeping bloomer then held on to their lead for dear life.

   • 2016, Jack Chapman, Prodigal Son:

     "Brain-dead kids. Born losers. No-hopers the lot of 'em. I mean, as a taxpayer, what do they effin' teach 'em in school these days? I ask you!"

• forlorn hope
• goner

• -orphone, phorone