IdiomThe Absurd
English
Englishat latter Lammas
Meaning: Never; at a time that will never come.
Example: “He'll repay that loan at latter Lammas, which is to say never.”
Other ways to say this
Russian: Когда рак на горе свистнет (Kogda rak na gore svistnet) Literally: When a crayfish whistles on the mountain
French: Quand les poules auront des dents Literally: When hens have teeth- Russian: После дождичка в четверг (Posle dozhdichka v chetverg) Literally: After the little rain on Thursday
Portuguese: Nem que a vaca tussa Literally: Not even if the cow coughs
Italian: alle calende greche Literally: On the Greek calends- English: when hell freezes over
- French: Aux calendes grecques Literally: At the Greek calends
- French: À la Saint-Glinglin Literally: On Saint Glinglin's day
- English: when pigs fly
Origin: Latter Lammas (a day celebrated in August) was already a rare or peculiar observance; the phrase plays on this remoteness to mean an impossibly distant or nonexistent time.
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