PhrasesHub

When pigs fly

    Definitions

      • impossible or unlikely event
        To express that something is highly improbable or will never happen, often used in a sarcastic or exaggerated manner

    Examples of When pigs fly

    • "I'll believe in ghosts when pigs fly."

      This idiom is used to express an unlikely or impossible event. It implies that the speaker is so skeptical or disbelieving that they consider the event to be as improbable as pigs flying. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will not believe in ghosts until a situation that is as unlikely as pigs flying occurs.

    • "I'll quit my job and become a professional skateboarder when pigs fly."

      This idiom is used to express a situation that is highly improbable or impossible. It implies that the speaker is so content or satisfied with their current situation that they consider the event to be as unlikely as pigs flying. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will not quit their job and become a professional skateboarder until a situation that is as unlikely as pigs flying occurs.

    • "I'll learn to speak Mandarin when pigs fly."

      This idiom is used to express a situation that is highly improbable or impossible. It implies that the speaker is so confident in their current language skills that they consider the event to be as unlikely as pigs flying. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will not learn to speak Mandarin until a situation that is as unlikely as pigs flying occurs.

    • "I'll be able to run a marathon in under two hours when pigs fly."

      This idiom is used to express a situation that is highly improbable or impossible. It implies that the speaker is so confident in their current athletic abilities that they consider the event to be as unlikely as pigs flying. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will not be able to run a marathon in under two hours until a situation that is as unlikely as pigs flying occurs.

    • "I'll finish my novel by next week when pigs fly."

      This idiom is used to express a situation that is highly improbable or impossible. It implies that the speaker is so doubtful in their current progress that they consider the event to be as unlikely as pigs flying. In this example, the speaker is saying that they will not finish their novel by next week until a situation that is as unlikely as pigs flying occurs.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "when pigs fly" is typically used to convey that something is highly unlikely or impossible to happen. It is often used in a humorous or exaggerated way to express doubt or disbelief. It can also be used to dismiss someone's idea or suggestion as unrealistic.

    Origin of "When pigs fly"

    The origin of this idiom is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in the early 1600s. It may have been influenced by the biblical phrase "when pigs have wings" which is used to express something that is impossible. It is also possible that the idiom was influenced by the popular belief that pigs were unable to fly due to their physical characteristics.

    Some sources suggest that the idiom may have originated from a Scottish proverb "pigs may fly, but they are not eagles". This proverb was used to mock overly optimistic or unrealistic people.

    Another possible origin of the idiom could be from the medieval belief in the existence of flying pigs, which were depicted in various works of art and literature. This belief may have been used to mock or ridicule those who believed in absurd or impossible ideas.

    Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom "when pigs fly" has become a popular and widely used phrase in modern English, often used in a lighthearted or sarcastic manner to express disbelief or doubt in something happening.