dead on arrival

Meaning

1. 1

   (of an accident victim or other patient) already dead when arriving at hospital

   She was pronounced dead on arrival.

2. 2

   informalAmerican

   very unlikely to be successful; not working when it is delivered

   The bill was dead on arrival in the Senate.

From the same entry

• be dead and gone
• be a dead ringer for
• dead as a dodo
• dead as a doornail
• a dead duck
• the dead hand of
• dead in the water
• dead meat
• dead to the world
• over my dead body
• wouldn't be seen dead
• flog a dead horse