ENGLISH
REFERENCE

when pigs fly

idiom
Meaning

Never.


Origin

disputed origin

Referencing the fact that pigs do not have wings and cannot fly.

Examples
SIMPLE

He will apologize when pigs fly.

CONTEXTUAL

You can expect him to finish that report on time when pigs fly.

COMPLEX

The politician promised to lower taxes for everyone, but we all knew that would happen only when pigs fly.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    fly blind

    To do by guesswork; to feel one's way.

  2. 02

    fly by

    To pass or go past quickly, often without much interaction

  3. 03

    fly by the seat of one's pants

    To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.

  4. 04

    fly in the face of

    To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.

  5. 05

    fly in the ointment

    Something (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a disagreeable or unpleasant detail.

  6. 06

    fly low

    To have one's fly (zipper) undone.

  7. 07

    fly off

    To flee rapidly; to run away.

  8. 08

    fly off at a tangent

    To digress from a topic.

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