
IdiomFood & Drink
English
jam tomorrow
Meaning: A promise of good things in the future that never arrive.
Example: “The company keeps offering bonuses next year; it's always jam tomorrow.”
Origin: From Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass (1871), where the White Queen offers "jam to-morrow and jam yesterday — but never jam to-day."
Equivalents in other languages
French: Demain, on rase gratis Literally: Tomorrow, free shaves
More English idioms
- have one foot in the grave To be close to death.
- cast the first stone To be the first to condemn someone.
- steal a march on To gain an advantage by acting before someone else.
- the bee's knees Something or someone excellent.
- throw someone under the bus To betray or blame someone to save oneself.
- take stock To review a situation carefully before deciding what to do.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tienes menos luces que un barco pirata You're really not the brightest.
- Eres más lento que el caballo del malo You're painfully slow — the villain's horse never catches the hero.
- Testa di rapa A blockhead who isn't thinking.
Keep exploring