no-go

Or no go

[noh-goh]

adjective

Informal.

1. not authorized or approved to proceed; canceled or aborted.

   The Tuesday space launch is no-go.

2. not ready to go or proceed.

3. not functioning properly; inoperative.

   The ticket machine was no-go.

4. (of an area) having restricted entry.

   hazardous no-go zones.

noun

Informal.

1. a plan or idea that is canceled, rejected, or otherwise fails to be realized.

   We asked to borrow the car, but that was a no-go, so we’ll have to take the bus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of no-go¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Idioms and Phrases

see no dice.

Example Sentences

It's just a no-go zone for the government.

Read more on BBC

Commuters have been seen wading through deep water to access the station over the past year, while a charity warns the area could become a "no-go zone" for disabled people.

Read more on BBC

In particular Hezbollah is again smuggling and building the rockets and antitank missiles that made the north of Israel a no-go zone for more than a year after October 2023.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

You can set no-go zones and blur faces in the video feed, and an operator will never connect without your approval.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It's 10 years ago since broadcasting regulator Ofcom found Fox News in breach of the broadcasting code after one of its contributors called Birmingham a "no-go zone" for non-Muslims.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• feeble 
• fruitless 
• futile 
• impotent 
• inadequate 
• incompetent 
• indecisive 
• ineffectual 
• inefficient 
• inept 
• limited 
• null 
• powerless 
• unable 
• unproductive 
• unprofitable 
• unsuccessful 
• worthless