ENGLISH
REFERENCE

it ain't over till the fat lady sings

idiom
Meaning

This isn't over yet


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

1970s American sports saying (popularised by sportswriter Dan Cook, 1978), alluding to opera — Wagner's Ring cycle ends with the soprano Brünnhilde's long final aria.

Examples
SIMPLE

We are losing the game, but it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

CONTEXTUAL

The polls show the other candidate is winning, but we should keep working because it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

COMPLEX

Although the company faces significant financial losses this quarter, the CEO remains optimistic, reminding the board that it ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Last updated June 7, 2026