no-go

American

[noh-goh] / ˈnoʊˈgoʊ /

Or no go

adjective

Informal.

not authorized or approved to proceed; canceled or aborted.

The Tuesday space launch is no-go.
not ready to go or proceed.
not functioning properly; inoperative.

The ticket machine was no-go.
(of an area) having restricted entry.

hazardous no-go zones.

noun

Informal.

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.

no go Idioms

see no dice.

Etymology

Origin of no-go

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

no-go no go

Bagged salad mixes and kits, which have been linked to previous outbreaks in the United States and Canada, were suddenly a no-go.

From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026

The reason most people won’t spend early in retirement is a quiet fear of the no-go years, and that fear is legitimate.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

Then up to 30 million gallons a day of Tijuana waste turned its legendary beaches into a no-go zone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026

"We've had to relocate in certain areas because it became too dangerous, and unfortunately, some of the areas where we began our work in 2022 are now no-go zones."

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026

For more than a decade following Penkovsky's arrest, Moscow had been a virtual no-go zone for CIA operations.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

But when McArthur came before the nominating committee in March 2025 for her final promotion, the 50-year-old was told advancement was a no go.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Big Macs, McFlurry's and the Golden Arches were all a no go, as was the McDonald's-style Big Mac sauce.

From Reuters ● Mar. 1, 2023

“Or would he say, no, go ahead and spend $100 million to tell everybody how great I am?”

From Washington Post ● Feb. 3, 2023

This week, according to Waldman, the school said it was a no go.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2022

Inside her shirt Pantalaimon was shivering and whispering, “No, no, Lyra, no, go away, let’s go back, please...”

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023