# when Hell freezes over

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/when-hell-freezes-over
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Never; not in this lifetime or a time in the unforeseeably distant future; not a chance.

## Examples

- I will apologize to him when hell freezes over.
- He asked if I would ever lend him my car again, but I told him that would happen when hell freezes over.
- The stubborn politician insisted he would resign his position only when hell freezes over, despite the mounting pressure from his own party.

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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.