| Locker room sulker | Wall Street Journal | 29 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Unhappy roles for one who doesn't win | The Telegraph Toughie | 28 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Hapless sort | Wall Street Journal | 27 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Sore ___, someone who may be salty for not winning |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up | LA Times Daily | 19 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper (5) | Mirror Cryptic | 07 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Defeated contestant (5) | Mirror Quick | 07 Oct 2025 | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | One defeated | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 14 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Concession speech deliverer | LA Times Daily | 05 Sep 2025 | 
          
            | Not a winner |  |  | 
          
            | 1's conquered one (5) |  |  | 
          
            | A failure in tailed roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | In a close race he doesn't come first (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated contestant (5) | Mirror Quick | 06 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper (5) | Mirror Cryptic | 06 Jul 2025 | 
          
            | Carlos Eriksen was a bit of a failure (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated contestant (5) | Mirror Quick | 25 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper (5) | Mirror Cryptic | 25 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Defeated player (5) | Puzzler | 23 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | Reality TV series, The Biggest ... |  |  | 
          
            | He's no better off for changing roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Showing insufficient resolve, possibly, he was beaten (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | The Telegraph Quick | 06 Jun 2025 | 
          
            | One coming off worse (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He can't keep being a failure! (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Nobody's free to swap spectacles for monocle 'by right' |  |  | 
          
            | Person who doesn't win |  |  | 
          
            | "I guess I just didn't fully grasp how many ___s there are in the world. Like I knew there were a lot of ___s out there, but the amount of ___s that would have to exist to, one, make this product feas |  |  | 
          
            | Last-place placer |  |  | 
          
            | Possible roles for the defeated (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He switches roles if he's not on the winning side (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He can't keep changing roles! (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Beck's signature song |  |  | 
          
            | One who does not win (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Not the winner | The Telegraph Quick | 28 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | Flop | The Telegraph Quick | 27 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | "... both ... are subdued, And neither party -" (Henry IV, Pt. 2) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Song by Beck with a defeatist title (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He's the poorer, having switched roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | She doesn't win but resolutely shows up (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Player who topples the Jenga tower | USA Today | 03 Apr 2025 | 
          
            | He has suffered a beating (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Hapless sort | Wall Street Journal | 24 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Spanish article here essentially is flop (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Pathetic person | Thomas Joseph | 18 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful player's more than half resolved to make comeback (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up, e.g. (5) | The Guardian Quick | 10 Mar 2025 | 
          
            | Contestant who lacked resolution in returning? (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Victor contradicts him (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He doesn't succeed (in taking care of his possessions?) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Pathetic person | Thomas Joseph | 18 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | The Spanish sovereign defeated contender (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper | Mirror Cryptic | 09 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | Defeated contestant | Mirror Quick | 09 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | Shipwreck |  |  | 
          
            | Defeatist Beck song | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 02 Feb 2025 | 
          
            | "I'm a - baby, so why don't you kill me?"Beck (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Sore ___, someone who may be salty for not winning |  |  | 
          
            | American weight loss show, The Biggest _ (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper | Mirror Cryptic | 15 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Also-ran | Mirror Quick | 15 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful contestant (5) | The Telegraph Quick | 15 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | High scorer in golf |  |  | 
          
            | Exchange roles with no-hoper | Mirror Cryptic | 08 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Pathetic person | Thomas Joseph | 08 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Defeated participant | The Times Concise | 08 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | One with possibly sole right to the wooden spoon? (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | Mirror Quick | 08 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Fiasco left unresolved to a degree (5) | The Guardian Cryptic | 03 Jan 2025 | 
          
            | Roles (anag) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Winner's opponent ROLES |  |  | 
          
            | One not winning different roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | The Biggest ___, reality TV show for slimmers | Puzzler Backwords | 23 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Player who's mated, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | ___ Takes All, Graham Greene novel (5) |  |  | 
          
            | TV'S The Biggest ___ debuted 20 yrs ago (5) |  |  | 
          
            | TV weight-loss show: The Biggest - |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well | Newsday | 18 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | One who cannot keep switching roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Changing roles means defeat for him (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Wooden spoon holder, perhaps? | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 13 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | Not a winner | The Telegraph Plusword | 08 Dec 2024 | 
          
            | No winner! (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Not the best man for tricky roles? (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Miss run, and one may be out of the competition | The Times Quick Cryptic | 29 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | He doesn't succeed in changing roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Goliath, notably | Newsday | 21 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Last one to cross the finish line | LA Times Daily | 21 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Defeated one | The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 19 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Failure nearer, after yielding lead |  |  | 
          
            | Postgame sulker | Wall Street Journal | 09 Nov 2024 | 
          
            | Person defeated | Newsday | 30 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | Winner's opponent |  |  | 
          
            | Varied roles for biggest dieter in reality show (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well | Newsday | 16 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | Failure to interpret roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Every ___ Wins, Nick Berry hit (5) | Puzzler | 12 Oct 2024 | 
          
            | Being unsuccessful, he makes sole adjustment right at the end (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Player who doesn't reach ten points in "The Settlers of Catan," say |  |  | 
          
            | Failed contender more relaxed missing an Oscar (5) |  |  | 
          
            | One's defeated some more soldiers in retreat | The Telegraph Cryptic | 24 Sep 2024 | 
          
            | Not the best man (5) |  |  | 
          
            | One who failed to win new roles |  |  | 
          
            | Not one with winning ways (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Weight-loss competition (The Biggest ___--) |  |  | 
          
            | Victor's opponent (5) |  |  | 
          
            | One not successful in close relationship (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Baseball pitcher, not starting, is one who doesn't get the win (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated one | Commuter | 16 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Beaten competitor (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated contestant | Mirror Quick | 04 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Runner-up to exchange roles | Mirror Cryptic | 04 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Who pays all legal costs under the so-called "English rule" | New York Times | 01 Aug 2024 | 
          
            | Roles confused by one defeated (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Opposite of winner | Puzzler | 18 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Roles miscast, every one wins in Nick Berry's song (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He won't win new roles |  |  | 
          
            | Fabled hare, e.g. | LA Times Daily | 10 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Beaten player | Mirror Tea Time | 05 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Figure the new variety of rose is a non prize winner (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Not the winner (5) | The Telegraph Mini | 02 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | He gets beaten if he can't find something (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Concession speech giver | Wall Street Journal | 01 Jul 2024 | 
          
            | Various roles defeat him (5) |  |  | 
          
            | 2000 Amy Heckerling romantic comedy film starring Jason Biggs, Mena Suvari and Greg Kinnear |  |  | 
          
            | The Biggest ___, reality TV show for slimmers (5) | Puzzler | 22 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | The hare, in a fabled race | Universal | 13 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | See sister embracing European competitor failing in end? (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Given rotten roles - he can't win |  |  | 
          
            | One in second, say |  |  | 
          
            | What two fingers in the shape of an "L" can mean | New York Times | 03 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Change roles with no-hoper | Mirror Cryptic | 01 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | Defeated contestant | Mirror Quick | 01 Jun 2024 | 
          
            | He's not gainfully employed (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He didn't succeed, and left Rose perplexed (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Player unable to win new roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | 1993 Beck single | New York Times | 19 May 2024 | 
          
            | One who fails frequently (inf) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up is less distant after leaving clubs (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Not the first to change roles |  |  | 
          
            | He shows no profit, so retires in dire solitude (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Weight-shifting reality series, The Biggest _ (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Wrong roles for no-hoper | The Guardian Quiptic | 14 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Sporting failure (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated competitor | Mirror Classic | 11 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Contemptible person | The Guardian Quick | 09 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | One who is never successful (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated party | The Times Concise | 09 Apr 2024 | 
          
            | Don't be a sore one! There are other roles to play! (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful person gets nearer being beheaded (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Not being on winning side, he switches roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Failure to change roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Beaten player | Mirror Tea Time | 28 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Washout | The Times Concise | 24 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Unlucky competitor |  |  | 
          
            | No-hoper exchanges roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | LA Times Daily | 21 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | He's unsuccessful at switching roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Failure of finisher missing header |  |  | 
          
            | Victor's opposite number (5) |  |  | 
          
            | One of the 87-Down | Premier Sunday | 10 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | Beaten contestant (5) |  |  | 
          
            | The defeated (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | Eugene Sheffer | 01 Mar 2024 | 
          
            | When almost closer, finds he can't win (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He doesn't win unusual roles (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Change of roles for unsuccessful sort (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Runner defeated in close race (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Bloke (inf) (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Every ___ Wins, Number One hit for Nick Berry | Puzzler Backwords | 09 Feb 2024 | 
          
            | Vanquished person (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Sore ___ (one who reacts poorly to failing) |  |  | 
          
            | One unsuccessful in polo series |  |  | 
          
            | Taunt indicated by an extended index finger and thumb by the forehead |  |  | 
          
            | Unlucky contestant |  |  | 
          
            | One doesn't succeed in close race |  |  | 
          
            | Different roles for everyone who wins in Nick Berry's 1986 song (5) |  |  | 
          
            | No-hoper changing roles (5) | Puzzler Cryptic | 22 Jan 2024 | 
          
            | Sore ___, someone who may be salty for not winning |  |  | 
          
            | Last person? |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless sort; roles (anag.) |  |  | 
          
            | Daniil Medvedev vis-a-vis Novak Djokovic in the 2023 U.S. Open final, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Beaten player | Mirror Tea Time | 03 Jan 2024 | 
          
            | One not victorious in close race (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Little River Band song, Lonesome ... |  |  | 
          
            | Last one in the race (5) |  |  | 
          
            | He failed to resolve it - some went back (5) |  |  | 
          
            | Teen college romantic comedy starring Jason Biggs and Mena Suvari |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | The Sun Two Speed | 12 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Failure among close relatives | The Sun Two Speed | 12 Nov 2023 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful person is nearer, but not first | The Guardian Quiptic | 30 Oct 2023 | 
          
            | Goliath, notably | Newsday | 28 Sep 2023 | 
          
            | Successful dieter | Newsday | 03 Sep 2023 | 
          
            | Person with a record of failure | The Guardian Quick | 23 Aug 2023 | 
          
            | Also-ran | New York Times | 05 Jul 2023 | 
          
            | Like the hare in a fable |  |  | 
          
            | Sore ___ (one who reacts badly to failure) |  |  | 
          
            | Aesop's hare, notably | Premier Sunday | 05 Mar 2023 | 
          
            | Runner-up | LA Times Daily | 10 Feb 2023 | 
          
            | Also-ran | Thomas Joseph | 13 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Sore __ | LA Times Daily | 06 Jan 2023 | 
          
            | Person destined to be taken advantage of (informal) | The Guardian Quick | 26 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | One defeated | The Telegraph Quick | 18 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | Player who topples the Jenga tower | USA Today | 18 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | Bridesmaid, increasingly promiscuous, wanting love? | The Telegraph Toughie | 11 Nov 2022 | 
          
            | One who draws the short straw | LA Times Daily | 31 Oct 2022 | 
          
            | Felon, informally | Newsday | 08 Oct 2022 | 
          
            | One failing to win in close race | The Telegraph Cryptic | 26 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Disheartened partner accepts second hopeless case | The Telegraph Toughie | 06 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Defeated contestant | The Guardian Quick | 03 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Line over river blocked by points failure |  |  | 
          
            | Line over river blocked by points failure | The Guardian Cryptic | 02 Sep 2022 | 
          
            | Sad sack | Thomas Joseph | 26 Aug 2022 | 
          
            | Some failure, so likely to get turned over? | The Times Cryptic | 05 Aug 2022 | 
          
            | Concession speech giver | Wall Street Journal | 07 Jul 2022 | 
          
            | Chump | Thomas Joseph | 05 Jul 2022 | 
          
            | An also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 21 May 2022 | 
          
            | Unlucky one makes up endless resolutions. | Irish Times Crosaire | 07 May 2022 | 
          
            | Failure of Super League? Football fans to finally riot | The Guardian Cryptic | 03 May 2022 | 
          
            | An also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 23 Apr 2022 | 
          
            | Luckless one | Newsday | 13 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | Solitary guy has change of heart: he’s not successful | The Times Cryptic | 03 Mar 2022 | 
          
            | An also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 26 Feb 2022 | 
          
            | Sore ___ (one who reacts poorly to failing) |  |  | 
          
            | Last-place finisher | USA Today | 30 Jan 2022 | 
          
            | Runner-up maybe less tense after conceding round | The Times Cryptic | 21 Jan 2022 | 
          
            | Oft-failing person | The Times Concise | 18 Jan 2022 | 
          
            | Checkmated chess player, for example | USA Today | 04 Jan 2022 | 
          
            | Also-ran | Thomas Joseph | 27 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Also-ran | The Telegraph Quick | 12 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | Pathetic person | Wall Street Journal | 08 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | An also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 04 Dec 2021 | 
          
            | “Soy un perdedor, / I’m a ____ baby, so why don’t you kill me?” (Beck) | The Times Specialist Sunday | 28 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | Defeated competitor | USA Today | 10 Nov 2021 | 
          
            | Consolation prize recipient | USA Today | 30 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Hapless sort | Wall Street Journal | 23 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful competitor | USA Today | 13 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | Runner-up? Nearer being a non-starter | The Telegraph Cryptic | 08 Oct 2021 | 
          
            | One failing to win in close race |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter | Newsday | 21 Jul 2021 | 
          
            | Failure more relaxed missing an Oscar |  |  | 
          
            | Impostor not quiet, left on top becomes a flop |  |  | 
          
            | The hare, in 'The Tortoise and the Hare' | USA Today | 07 May 2021 | 
          
            | Hardly a winner |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up in close race? | The Telegraph Cryptic | 15 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Failure of a person nearer losing head |  |  | 
          
            | Locker room sulker | Wall Street Journal | 06 Mar 2021 | 
          
            | Nearer snatching the lead, but never a victor |  |  | 
          
            | Final finisher | Thomas Joseph | 19 Feb 2021 | 
          
            | An also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 15 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | Defeated person | The Telegraph Quick | 08 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | One wouldn't succeed the Spanish queen |  |  | 
          
            | No-hoper's new role picking up seaweed at front |  |  | 
          
            | Paper, vis-à-vis scissors | New York Times | 02 Jan 2021 | 
          
            | The hare, to the tortoise | USA Today | 22 Dec 2020 | 
          
            | One snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, say | USA Today | 28 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | Without leader, nearer failure |  |  | 
          
            | Pathetic person | Thomas Joseph | 23 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | One missing out -- gets nearer, but not number one | The Telegraph Cryptic | 08 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | Sore __ | The Washington Post | 08 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | Sore __ | LA Times Daily | 08 Oct 2020 | 
          
            | No-hoper is more relaxed with one round to go |  |  | 
          
            | Jenga tower toppler, e.g | USA Today | 15 Aug 2020 | 
          
            | One can't win with philosopher dismissing hip-hop | Irish Times Crosaire | 15 Aug 2020 | 
          
            | Flop | Newsday | 25 Jul 2020 | 
          
            | Model of ineptitude breaking off shutter's opener? |  |  | 
          
            | Booby-prize recipient | The New Yorker | 08 Jun 2020 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful person | The Times Concise | 11 May 2020 | 
          
            | One failing to win quirky roles |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated player looks teary from time to time | The Telegraph Cryptic | 20 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | Not the winner in a close race |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful type | The Telegraph Quick | 11 Mar 2020 | 
          
            | Playing roles in local flop | Irish Times Crosaire | 19 Feb 2020 | 
          
            | Not a winner |  |  | 
          
            | Flop as lover after heart transplant |  |  | 
          
            | Postgame moper | Wall Street Journal | 17 Dec 2019 | 
          
            | One defeated when swapping roles |  |  | 
          
            | Tricky roles for one always taking second place? |  |  | 
          
            | Not so far off, Conservative departing as unsuccessful candidate? |  |  | 
          
            | Failed competitor | The Telegraph Quick | 05 Oct 2019 | 
          
            | Last place holder, say |  |  | 
          
            | Behold! First half of pulpit address delivers one that's been left behind |  |  | 
          
            | One who can't 21-Down | USA Today | 26 Jul 2019 | 
          
            | Sad sack | Thomas Joseph | 08 Jul 2019 | 
          
            | Behold! First half of pulpit address delivers one that's been left behind |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless sort | USA Today | 26 May 2019 | 
          
            | Also-ran | Thomas Joseph | 14 May 2019 | 
          
            | Many a gambler | The Washington Post | 13 Apr 2019 | 
          
            | Many a gambler | LA Times Daily | 13 Apr 2019 | 
          
            | Unsuccessful competitor | The Telegraph Quick | 08 Mar 2019 | 
          
            | Failure | The Telegraph Quick | 20 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Cornwallis, at Yorktown | Newsday | 10 Feb 2019 | 
          
            | Drawer of the short straw | USA Today | 14 Jan 2019 | 
          
            | One who can't 21-Down |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless sort |  |  | 
          
            | Many a gambler |  |  | 
          
            | Drawer of the short straw |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless fellow | Wall Street Journal | 22 Dec 2018 | 
          
            | Failure in variety of roles |  |  | 
          
            | Failure among close relatives | The Sun Two Speed | 15 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | Defeated contender | The Sun Two Speed | 15 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | 28-Down's opposite | LA Times Daily | 07 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | 28-Down's opposite | The Washington Post | 07 Oct 2018 | 
          
            | Failure is more imminent without leader |  |  | 
          
            | Sore ___ (someone who reacts poorly to a defeat) |  |  | 
          
            | '90s Beck hit | Universal | 27 Sep 2018 | 
          
            | No-hoper with dreadful roles |  |  | 
          
            | Failure in variety of roles |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel | The New Yorker | 02 Jul 2018 | 
          
            | Erol's hybrid is a non-winner |  |  | 
          
            | Not a winner | The Telegraph Quick | 18 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Hello's error to feature someone with no star quality? | The Telegraph Toughie | 13 Jun 2018 | 
          
            | Postgame sulker | Wall Street Journal | 01 May 2018 | 
          
            | Juvenile put-down | New York Times | 21 Apr 2018 | 
          
            | Last-place finisher | Newsday | 18 Apr 2018 | 
          
            | One unsuccessful in different roles |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel | USA Today | 08 Mar 2018 | 
          
            | Also-ran | Eugene Sheffer | 08 Mar 2018 | 
          
            | Down-on-one's-luck sort | USA Today | 27 Jan 2018 | 
          
            | 28-Down's opposite |  |  | 
          
            | Juvenile put-down |  |  | 
          
            | '90s Beck hit |  |  | 
          
            | Down-on-one's-luck sort |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless fellow |  |  | 
          
            | Postgame sulker |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran | USA Today | 22 Nov 2017 | 
          
            | Player over 21, perhaps | LA Times Daily | 18 Nov 2017 | 
          
            | Player over 21, perhaps | The Washington Post | 18 Nov 2017 | 
          
            | Nearer, but missing first place -- becoming this? | The Telegraph Toughie | 18 Oct 2017 | 
          
            | One failing frequently | The Times Concise | 30 Aug 2017 | 
          
            | Schlemiel | Thomas Joseph | 14 Jul 2017 | 
          
            | Once deprived of love, slacker's a failure | The Times Cryptic | 14 Jun 2017 | 
          
            | Once deprived of love, slacker's a failure |  |  | 
          
            | Deadbeat, e.g | New York Times | 02 May 2017 | 
          
            | Any of three semifinalists, eventually | USA Today | 22 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | Consolation prize recipient | USA Today | 19 Apr 2017 | 
          
            | His resolve improved a bit, but he wasn't successful |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well | Newsday | 12 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | Hard luck case | LA Times Daily | 07 Feb 2017 | 
          
            | You're solver somewhat upset, one lacking success? |  |  | 
          
            | What a two-fingered "L" represents | LA Times Daily | 02 Jan 2017 | 
          
            | Any of three semifinalists, eventually |  |  | 
          
            | Deadbeat, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Unlucky one | Newsday | 01 Jan 2017 | 
          
            | Consolation prize recipient |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | Player over 21, perhaps |  |  | 
          
            | What a two-fingered "L" represents |  |  | 
          
            | Dud | New York Times | 18 Dec 2016 | 
          
            | Usually disappointed one | LA Times Daily | 16 Dec 2016 | 
          
            | Last place finisher, obviously | Universal | 08 Dec 2016 | 
          
            | Olympian who doesn't medal | Universal | 29 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | One not getting an Olympic medal | Universal | 06 Nov 2016 | 
          
            | Failed contender more relaxed after relinquishing an Oscar |  |  | 
          
            | Failure, also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 29 Oct 2016 | 
          
            | Mr. Wrong? | LA Times Daily | 30 Sep 2016 | 
          
            | One who shuts up having caught out failure | The Times Cryptic | 09 Sep 2016 | 
          
            | One who shuts up having caught out failure |  |  | 
          
            | Chump | Thomas Joseph | 08 Sep 2016 | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer | Newsday | 01 Sep 2016 | 
          
            | No-hoper | The Guardian Quick | 18 Jun 2016 | 
          
            | Short-straw picker | LA Times Daily | 24 May 2016 | 
          
            | Person defeated | Newsday | 27 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Lead gone, nearer being a failure |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful type protected by close relatives |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter | Universal | 15 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Failure in comic roles | The Telegraph Cryptic | 12 Apr 2016 | 
          
            | Also-ran | The Telegraph Quick | 16 Mar 2016 | 
          
            | Schlemiel | The Chronicle of Higher Education | 11 Mar 2016 | 
          
            | One unsuccessful, solitary guy having change of heart | The Times Cryptic | 09 Mar 2016 | 
          
            | One disadvantaged among close relations |  |  | 
          
            | Usually disappointed one |  |  | 
          
            | Sore __ |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw picker |  |  | 
          
            | Dud |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | One not getting an Olympic medal |  |  | 
          
            | Last place finisher, obviously |  |  | 
          
            | A failure in failed roles | The Sun Two Speed | 22 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Defeated party | The Sun Two Speed | 22 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | Everyone except the winner | USA Today | 13 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | One finishing second? | USA Today | 11 Dec 2015 | 
          
            | A failure, also-ran | Irish Times Simplex | 21 Nov 2015 | 
          
            | Sad sack | New York Times | 15 Nov 2015 | 
          
            | Put-down from Donald Trump | New York Times | 12 Oct 2015 | 
          
            | Last-place finisher | USA Today | 29 Sep 2015 | 
          
            | Doesn't win acting roles | Irish Times Crosaire | 28 Aug 2015 | 
          
            | Mysterious roles from The Misfit | Irish Times Crosaire | 08 Aug 2015 | 
          
            | One who finishes last | USA Today | 20 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer | LA Times Daily | 19 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | One finishing second | Universal | 16 Jul 2015 | 
          
            | Schlub | New York Times | 30 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Winner's victim | Universal | 14 Jun 2015 | 
          
            | Tiepolo's Eros is in part a failure |  |  | 
          
            | Hapless sort | LA Times Daily | 03 May 2015 | 
          
            | 'The Biggest ' | Eugene Sheffer | 24 Apr 2015 | 
          
            | X-O-X line in tic-tac-toe, e.g | New York Times | 12 Apr 2015 | 
          
            | Sore sort, maybe | LA Times Daily | 05 Mar 2015 | 
          
            | Many a casino visitor | LA Times Daily | 03 Feb 2015 | 
          
            | X-O-X line in tic-tac-toe, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Put-down from Donald Trump |  |  | 
          
            | Sad sack |  |  | 
          
            | Schlub |  |  | 
          
            | One finishing second |  |  | 
          
            | Winner's victim |  |  | 
          
            | Everyone except the winner |  |  | 
          
            | Last-place finisher |  |  | 
          
            | One finishing second? |  |  | 
          
            | One who finishes last |  |  | 
          
            | Beck's breakout single |  |  | 
          
            | Early Beck single |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | Hapless sort |  |  | 
          
            | Hard luck case |  |  | 
          
            | Many a casino visitor |  |  | 
          
            | Mr. Wrong? |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Sore sort, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well |  |  | 
          
            | Taunting word |  |  | 
          
            | One finishing second |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up |  |  | 
          
            | Typical Las Vegas gambler |  |  | 
          
            | One who finishes last |  |  | 
          
            | One not allowed in the winners' circle |  |  | 
          
            | Sad sack |  |  | 
          
            | See 56 Down |  |  | 
          
            | Vanquished one |  |  | 
          
            | Beck single of 1993 |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | The hare, notably |  |  | 
          
            | Chump |  |  | 
          
            | Weeper, proverbially |  |  | 
          
            | Like one who is 52-Down |  |  | 
          
            | Last one in |  |  | 
          
            | Like one who is 52-Down |  |  | 
          
            | One-day "Jeopardy!" contestant, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Hardly one of the in crowd |  |  | 
          
            | He can't get a break |  |  | 
          
            | Hopeless guy |  |  | 
          
            | Last one in |  |  | 
          
            | Consolation-prize recipient |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well |  |  | 
          
            | One who can't catch a break |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | On reflection one's not quite resolute enough |  |  | 
          
            | Beck's breakthrough hit |  |  | 
          
            | Beck hit of 1993 |  |  | 
          
            | Beck's first smash |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated rival |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | #2 or #3, say |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up in a race |  |  | 
          
            | Person faking a smile at an awards show |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | One who weeps, in a saying |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | Doofus |  |  | 
          
            | He can't get a break |  |  | 
          
            | "The Biggest ___" |  |  | 
          
            | Unfortunate fellow |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter |  |  | 
          
            | Strip poker player in the buff, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Consistent failure |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated one |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | 2000 Jason Biggs comedy-romance |  |  | 
          
            | #2 or #3 |  |  | 
          
            | 36-Down, notably |  |  | 
          
            | Habitual failure |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Consistent failure |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter |  |  | 
          
            | Bottom dog |  |  | 
          
            | "The Biggest ___" |  |  | 
          
            | Short straw drawer, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up |  |  | 
          
            | Deadbeat |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | Jerk |  |  | 
          
            | Born __ |  |  | 
          
            | Person trying to smile at an awards show |  |  | 
          
            | Hapless one |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | A weeper, according to a saying |  |  | 
          
            | Dweeb |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless one |  |  | 
          
            | Born __ |  |  | 
          
            | Flop |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Place or show horse |  |  | 
          
            | Pointless player, perhaps |  |  | 
          
            | Sore one, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Last-place finisher |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful trophy seeker |  |  | 
          
            | Misfit |  |  | 
          
            | Flop |  |  | 
          
            | Beck hit with the lyric "So why don't you kill me?" |  |  | 
          
            | Short straw drawer, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Mr. Wrong? |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful trophy seeker |  |  | 
          
            | Misfit |  |  | 
          
            | Last one in |  |  | 
          
            | He may be sore |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless fellow |  |  | 
          
            | Hardly a winner |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | One who doesn't go past a semi? |  |  | 
          
            | Sad sack |  |  | 
          
            | Schlemiel |  |  | 
          
            | Doofus |  |  | 
          
            | "The Born __" |  |  | 
          
            | Consistent failure |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Terse putdown |  |  | 
          
            | Perennial last-place finisher |  |  | 
          
            | The one with 0 in 7-0 |  |  | 
          
            | He may be sore |  |  | 
          
            | Stock that drops in value |  |  | 
          
            | Dewey, to Truman |  |  | 
          
            | Misfit |  |  | 
          
            | Dweeb |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless one |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated rival |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up, essentially |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless one |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter |  |  | 
          
            | Perry Mason, only once |  |  | 
          
            | Short straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Sometimes a dieter is one |  |  | 
          
            | Naked strip poker player, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Dweeb |  |  | 
          
            | Locker room sulker |  |  | 
          
            | Successful dieter |  |  | 
          
            | He has lots of sour-grapes? |  |  | 
          
            | Athlete, at times |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Short straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Creep |  |  | 
          
            | Any of three semifinalists |  |  | 
          
            | Any of three semifinalists |  |  | 
          
            | Jenny Craig fan |  |  | 
          
            | Habitual failure |  |  | 
          
            | The one in last place, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Habitual failure |  |  | 
          
            | Luckless one |  |  | 
          
            | Doofus |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Weeper, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Schlimazel |  |  | 
          
            | Consolation prize recipient |  |  | 
          
            | Sad sack |  |  | 
          
            | One who weeps, in a saying |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran |  |  | 
          
            | Wanderer |  |  | 
          
            | Schlimazel |  |  | 
          
            | Not a medalist |  |  | 
          
            | Second place finisher |  |  | 
          
            | Sore person? |  |  | 
          
            | Good sport, perhaps |  |  | 
          
            | Hopeless one |  |  | 
          
            | One with sour grapes? |  |  | 
          
            | Short-straw drawer |  |  | 
          
            | Hit song from Beck |  |  | 
          
            | Misfit |  |  | 
          
            | He's sore, maybe |  |  | 
          
            | Pathetic person |  |  | 
          
            | Fortune s fool |  |  | 
          
            | Last-place team |  |  | 
          
            | "The Born ___" (Chip Sansom comic strip) |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up in a match race |  |  | 
          
            | One without promise |  |  | 
          
            | A good dieter? |  |  | 
          
            | See 143-Down |  |  | 
          
            | Bad bet |  |  | 
          
            | Hopeless guy |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up |  |  | 
          
            | Not a medalist |  |  | 
          
            | One bettered |  |  | 
          
            | One finishing second |  |  | 
          
            | Cleveland  in the '94 World Series |  |  | 
          
            | Unfortunate fellow |  |  | 
          
            | Fortune's fool |  |  | 
          
            | Vanquished |  |  | 
          
            | Misfit |  |  | 
          
            | The Beatles' "I'm a ____" |  |  | 
          
            | Dewey in 1948 |  |  | 
          
            | What Bryan was to Taft |  |  | 
          
            | Carthage, in the Punic Wars |  |  | 
          
            | T.K.O. victim, e.g. |  |  | 
          
            | Hard-luck case |  |  | 
          
            | Vanquished one |  |  | 
          
            | Unsuccessful participant |  |  | 
          
            | Born ___ (schlemiel) |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated one |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated pitcher |  |  | 
          
            | Bested one |  |  | 
          
            | Born follower |  |  | 
          
            | Unlucky one |  |  | 
          
            | Weeper, proverbially |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated contestant |  |  | 
          
            | Ne'er-do-well |  |  | 
          
            | Mondale on Nov. 6, 1984 |  |  | 
          
            | McDowell or Pope, at Bull Run |  |  | 
          
            | McGovern, in 1972 |  |  | 
          
            | His wager should have been sager |  |  | 
          
            | Ford in 1976 |  |  | 
          
            | Carter vis-à-vis Reagan |  |  | 
          
            | Word with sore |  |  | 
          
            | Cornwallis at Yorktown |  |  | 
          
            | He may be sore |  |  | 
          
            | Burgoyne at Saratoga |  |  | 
          
            | Proverbial weeper |  |  | 
          
            | One back in the pack |  |  | 
          
            | Second best |  |  | 
          
            | Traditional weeper |  |  | 
          
            | Bad-luck guy |  |  | 
          
            | Sore ___ |  |  | 
          
            | Weeper, in saying |  |  | 
          
            | Weeper, in adage |  |  | 
          
            | Edsel, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Underdog. |  |  | 
          
            | Also-ran. |  |  | 
          
            | Beck's breakout hit |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated candidate. |  |  | 
          
            | Unlucky one. |  |  | 
          
            | Tailender. |  |  | 
          
            | Minnesota to Los Angeles. |  |  | 
          
            | Defeated one. |  |  | 
          
            | He pays up. |  |  | 
          
            | Sugar Ray on June 25th. |  |  | 
          
            | Humphrey, in 1968 |  |  | 
          
            | Goliath, for one |  |  | 
          
            | Short-ender. |  |  | 
          
            | Team in the cellar. |  |  | 
          
            | Winner of the booby prize. |  |  | 
          
            | Second best. |  |  | 
          
            | Cornwallis at Yorktown. |  |  | 
          
            | Little Bo-Peep, for one. |  |  | 
          
            | Second-best contestant. |  |  | 
          
            | Second-best one. |  |  | 
          
            | Winner of a red ribbon. |  |  | 
          
            | Last one in. |  |  | 
          
            | Booby prize winner. |  |  | 
          
            | Election casualty. |  |  | 
          
            | Low card. |  |  | 
          
            | Money dropper. |  |  | 
          
            | Runner-up. |  |  | 
          
            | An also-ran. |  |  | 
          
            | Member of a Las Vegas majority. |  |  |