That dog won't hunt

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Meaning

That idea, excuse, or plan is not convincing and will not work. Current, folksy, and dismissive Regional use: United States, strongly associated with Southern speech.

Origin

A folksy American metaphor comparing a failed proposal with an unwilling or poorly trained hunting dog. The exact wording is documented in an 1843 Washington newspaper letter about presidential politics. It had a British predecessor, that cock won't fight, but the hunting-dog form developed in the United States and was already productive enough for the editor to extend the joke.

Variants

  • this dog won't hunt
  • the dog won't hunt

Usage Examples

  • Calling the missing funds a rounding error? That dog won't hunt.
  • The engineers reviewed his shortcut and agreed that this dog would not hunt.

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