# never in a month of Sundays

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/never-in-a-month-of-sundays
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

At no time whatsoever.

## Examples

- I will never in a month of Sundays agree to that plan.
- You will find a cheaper apartment in this city never in a month of Sundays.
- I will wear those bright orange pants never in a month of Sundays.
- He told his boss that he would never in a month of Sundays finish such a massive project by tomorrow morning.
- My grandmother believes that my brother will clean his messy garage never in a month of Sundays, despite his many promises to do it.
- The old car is so broken that it will start again never in a month of Sundays, even if a professional mechanic looks at it.
- She insisted that, never in a month of Sundays, would she return to the place where she had suffered such profound disappointment.

## Origin

First recorded in the mid-18th century, the expression relies on the arithmetic of the liturgical calendar. A month of Sundays would mathematically require thirty-one weeks to complete, rendering the duration significantly longer than a standard month. It functions as a hyperbolic measure of time, suggesting an event that will not occur within any foreseeable or conventional span.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.