- A sarcastic or humorous way of saying something will never happen.
- Refers to something completely impossible or absurd.
Explanation
Origin
- The image of pigs flying is inherently absurd and impossible, making it a strong symbol for impossibility.
- Expressions about animals doing impossible things as a signifier of never have a long history (e.g., talking animals, fish flying).
- The specific phrase pigs might fly appeared by the 17th century, and when pigs fly became popular later, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, as a common retort signifying disbelief.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Not gonna happen / Ain't gonna happen
- Yeah, right! / As if!
- Dream on!
- No way, José! (Playful)
- In your dreams!
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- When hell freezes over
- Not a fucking chance / No fuckin' way
- A snowball's chance in hell
Milder/More Formal:
- Highly unlikely
- I sincerely doubt it
- That seems improbable
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal and humorous.
- Can sound rude, dismissive, or overly cynical in formal situations or if used insensitively about someone's hopes.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The literal absurdity generally makes the figurative meaning (never) clear.
- Ensure learners understand it's used to express strong disbelief, often sarcastically.
Examples
- He said he'll start exercising regularly? Yeah, when pigs fly!
- Do you think I'll win the lottery? Sure, when pigs fly!
- She'll apologize? When pigs fly!
Dialogue
Student A: Maybe the teacher will forget to collect the homework tomorrow.
Student B: Ha! When pigs fly! She has the memory of an elephant.
Student A: Yeah, you're probably right.
Social Media Examples
- My cat bringing me a gift that isn't a dead bug? Yeah, when pigs fly. 🐷✈️ #CatLife #Impossible
- Politician promises everything will be fixed overnight. Sure it will... when pigs fly. #Skepticism #RealityCheck
Response Patterns
- Laughter.
- Agreement on the impossibility: Exactly!, You said it!, My thoughts exactly.
- Playful disagreement (rare): Hey, you never know!
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Usually, this expression ends the discussion on that specific possibility, signifying complete disbelief.
- The conversation might then shift to why it's considered impossible or move to another topic entirely.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response expressing extreme skepticism or disbelief.
Intonation
- Almost always said with a sarcastic, dismissive, or humorous tone.
- Strong emphasis on pigs fly. Often preceded by a scoff or doubtful sound like Yeah, right...
- WHEN PIGS FLY!
Generation Differences
- Widely known and understood across generations, though perhaps feels a touch quaint to some younger speakers compared to alternatives like Yeah, right or Not gonna happen.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions.
- Pigs might fly is a common variant, perhaps slightly more prevalent in British English.