no joy

English

Noun

no joy

1. (military) Unable to establish visual or radio contact with a target aircraft.
2. (idiomatic) A negative outcome; no success; a failure.

   I've been waiting 20 minutes for a bus, and still no joy.

   • 1994, Stuart Woods, Heat:

     We X-rayed the briefcase last night, but no joy. The P160 technician reckoned it was lined in lead foil.

See also

• no-go
• no dice