It ain't over till the fat lady sings

Definitions

emphasize that a situation is not yet concluded and anything could still happen
Highlight that a particular event or situation is still ongoing and the outcome is uncertain until the very end
discourage premature celebration or assumption of a definite outcome
Advise against assuming that a particular outcome is guaranteed before it actually occurs, warning that things could still change

Examples of It ain't over till the fat lady sings

Even though our team is currently losing by a significant margin, we cannot afford to give up hope. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

In other words, we should continue playing our best because the outcome of the game is not yet certain, and we don't want to assume that our opponents will win easily. The expression "the fat lady sings" is used figuratively to represent the point at which a contest or event is definitively over, and the "fat lady" is a stereotypical image of a large, powerful singer who signals the end of a performance or competition with their final note. However, in this idiom, we use it to mean the opposite - that the contest is not yet over, and we should not assume that we have lost before the final event has taken place.
Despite the overwhelming negativity and pessimism surrounding our company's financial situation, we are determined to keep fighting. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Here, we are applying the idiom to a business context, where we can interpret "the fat lady" as a metaphor for the final financial report or stock market crash that will signal the end of our company's struggle. However, until this point is reached, we cannot afford to give up hope or assume that our efforts have been futile.
Our team has been losing game after game, but we remain confident that we can turn things around. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

In this example, we are using the idiom to convey that our team still has the potential to win, despite the current negative results. We interpret "the fat lady" as a metaphor for the point at which our losing streak becomes unstoppable, but until that point, we should remain hopeful and continue working hard to win.
Our political campaign was not an easy one, and we still face many challenges ahead. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

In this context, we can interpret "the fat lady" as representing the end of the political campaign, when the final votes are counted and the winner is declared. However, until this point, we should continue campaigning and working hard to sway voters, as we cannot assume that our opponent will inevitably win. By using this idiom, we express our confidence that our efforts will pay off in the end, and also emphasize the importance of persistence and determination in achieving our goals.
The political race between Candidate A and Candidate B is extremely close, and although Candidate A currently holds the lead, it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

This idiom is used to indicate that the outcome of the election is still uncertain and anything can happen until the final result is announced, just as the singing of the opera's "fat lady" (traditionally a mezzo-soprano) signals the end of the performance.
The team may be losing by two goals with only a few minutes left in the game, but it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

This example shows how the idiom can be used in a sports context to indicate that a team may make a surprising comeback and win the game, just as an unexpected twist in an opera can change the outcome.
The economy may be experiencing a recession, but it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Used in a financial context, this idiom highlights the uncertainty of economic cycles and the potential for a recovery, much like the unpredictability of an opera's plot.
The renovations on the building are taking longer than expected, but it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

This example uses the idiom to emphasize that the completion of the project is not certain, as there could still be unexpected delays or setbacks that might prolong the renovations.

Conclusion

The idiom "It ain't over till the fat lady sings" is used to convey that a situation is not yet concluded and anything could still happen. It emphasizes that the outcome is uncertain until the very end and discourages premature celebration or assumption of a definite outcome.

The phrase is often used in sports, politics, or any other competitive situation to remind people that the result is not final until the very end. It serves as a caution against assuming a victory or defeat before the conclusion is reached.

Origin of "It ain't over till the fat lady sings"

The origin of the idiom "It ain't over till the fat lady sings" is often attributed to opera. In opera, the soprano is often a larger woman, and her performance typically comes at the end of the show. The phrase is believed to have originated in the 1970s and became popular in the United States during sports broadcasts.

The idiom gained widespread usage and is now used in various contexts to emphasize that the outcome of a situation is not yet determined. It has become a popular way to caution against premature celebration or assumption of a definite outcome. Examples of its usage can be found in literature, media, and everyday conversation.