When hell freezes over

Definitions

• never
  To express that something is extremely unlikely or impossible to happen

• defiance
  To express refusal or unwillingness to do something, often in a rebellious or sarcastic manner

• delayed
  To express that something will not happen for a very long time or is constantly being postponed

Examples of When hell freezes over

• "When hell freezes over, I'll become a vegetarian."

  This idiom is used to describe an extremely unlikely event. It implies that the speaker is so committed to their current lifestyle or beliefs that they would only consider changing under extremely unusual circumstances. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will never become a vegetarian, as they find it highly unlikely that hell will ever freeze over.

• "I'll believe in ghosts when hell freezes over."

  This idiom is used to express strong skepticism or disbelief. It implies that the speaker is so convinced of the truth of their current beliefs that they would only consider changing under extremely unusual circumstances. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will never believe in ghosts, as they find it highly unlikely that hell will ever freeze over.

• "I'll stop biting my nails when hell freezes over."

  This idiom is used to describe a persistent habit or behavior. It implies that the speaker has tried unsuccessfully to change their behavior and has come to accept it as a permanent part of their life. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will never stop biting their nails, as they find it highly unlikely that hell will ever freeze over.

• "I'll start exercising when hell freezes over."

  This idiom is used to describe a lack of motivation or enthusiasm. It implies that the speaker is so uninterested in the activity in question that they would only consider doing it under extremely unusual circumstances. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will never start exercising, as they find it highly unlikely that hell will ever freeze over.

• "I'll stop procrastinating when hell freezes over."

  This idiom is used to describe a persistent habit of delaying or postponing tasks. It implies that the speaker has tried unsuccessfully to change their behavior and has come to accept it as a permanent part of their life. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will never stop procrastinating, as they find it highly unlikely that hell will ever freeze over.

Conclusion

The idiom "when hell freezes over" is used to convey a sense of impossibility or defiance. It can be used to express that something is highly unlikely to occur, or to refuse to do something in a rebellious or sarcastic manner. It can also be used to convey a sense of delay or constant postponement.

Origin of "When hell freezes over"

The origin of this idiom is believed to date back to ancient Greek mythology, specifically the story of the River Styx, which was said to be the boundary between the living and the underworld. In order to cross the river, one needed to pay the ferryman, Charon, with a coin placed under their tongue. Those who did not have a coin were said to be condemned to wander the shores of the river for eternity, until the river froze over.

Over time, this concept of the underworld freezing over became associated with a seemingly impossible event, as hell was believed to be a place of eternal fire and brimstone. The idiom "when hell freezes over" was first recorded in the 1800s and has since been used in various contexts to convey the idea of something being extremely unlikely to happen.

In modern usage, the idiom has also been linked to the idea of climate change and the potential catastrophic consequences if the Earth were to experience a drastic drop in temperature. This adds another layer to the meaning of the idiom, highlighting the severity and gravity of the situation it is used to describe.