when hell freezes over
Not ever happening
When hell freezes over means never—since hell is traditionally depicted as a place of eternal fire, its freezing is impossible.
The phrase emphatically rejects a possibility: I'll forgive him when hell freezes over.
Sometimes shortened to when hell freezes or varied as when pigs fly.
The response I'll bring my ice skates signals skeptical acceptance of an unlikely promise.
- fat chanceSarcastic denial of possibility
- never in a million yearsEmphatic impossibility expression
- no way, JoséEmphatic informal refusal
- in your dreamsSarcastic denial of possibility
- yeah rightSarcastic dismissal of claims
slim to none · over my dead body · snowball's chance in hell · flying pigs · don't hold your breath · dry wit · not a chance · sardonic humor · Faustian bargains · blue moon · pie in the sky · satirical cartoons
- Cold Expressionsbitter cold, bone-chilling, cold snap, cold spell, frigid
when hell freezes overright now
At the present moment
immediately · as we speak · at once · right away · in no time
when hell freezes overwithout a doubt
With complete certainty
absolutely · certainly · definitely · for sure · guaranteed
when hell freezes overabsolutely
Completely, without exception
with pleasure · of course · gladly · by all means · in a heartbeat