IdiomAnimals
English
Englishwhen pigs fly
Meaning: Never.
Example: “He'll clean the garage when pigs fly.”
Origin: Pigs are heavy and earthbound, so their flight is the standard image of the impossible. Scottish versions from the 16th century speak of pigs flying, and Lewis Carroll played with the idea in Alice.
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- English: at latter Lammas
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
More English idioms
- mark my words Remember what I am telling you; it will turn out to be true.
- lead someone up the garden path To deceive someone, keeping them hopeful along the way.
- packed like sardines Crowded very tightly together.
- give someone the runaround To put someone off with excuses instead of a straight answer.
- pin the blame on someone To make someone take responsibility for a fault, often unfairly.
- let the grass grow under one's feet To waste time and miss opportunities.
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