when pigs fly
Not gonna happen
When pigs fly dismisses something as impossible or extremely unlikely.
The image of pigs taking flight—absurd by nature—emphasizes that the speaker expects the thing will never happen: I'll forgive him when pigs fly.
The phrase often responds sarcastically to promises or predictions the speaker finds laughable.
Disposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- incredulityInability to accept something
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- scoffingMocking with contempt
dismissal · eye-roll · yeah right · sure thing · as if · don't hold your breath · fat chance · not likely
At no point
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- unachievableCannot be accomplished
- improbableNot likely true
unrealistic · unfeasible · impracticable · unobtainable · futile · hopeless · snowball's chance · blue moon
Wildly illogical quality
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- fantasticalExtravagantly unreal or imaginary
- cartoonAnimated or humorous illustration
- illustrationPicture explaining something
figurine · novelty · playful · lighthearted · amusing · silly · humorous · comical
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- incredulityInability to accept something
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
scoffing · dismissal · eye-roll · yeah right · sure thing · as if · don't hold your breath · fat chance · not likely · dream on
never
At no point
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- unattainableImpossible to acquire
- unachievableCannot be accomplished
improbable · unrealistic · unfeasible · impracticable · unobtainable · futile · hopeless · snowball's chance · blue moon · miracle
absurdity
Wildly illogical quality
- fancifulImaginatively unrealistic
- fantasticalExtravagantly unreal or imaginary
- cartoonAnimated or humorous illustration
illustration · figurine · novelty · playful · lighthearted · amusing · silly · humorous · comical · ridiculous
irony
Meaning opposite to words
ridicule · wit · quip · retort · comeback · deadpan · dry humor · tongue-in-cheek · scorn · contempt
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- farm idiomsmake hay while the sun shines, cream of the crop, put the cart before the horse, till the cows come home, buy the farm
- folk sayingsproverb, adage, maxim, folk saying, old saying
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- refusalsno, decline, no thanks, refuse, nope
- disbeliefdisbelief, no way, incredulity, unbelievable, yeah right
when pigs flyalways
At all times
inevitably · certainly · without fail · guaranteed · definitely
when pigs flyright now
At the present moment
immediately · as we speak · any day now · any minute now · straightaway
when, flying, pigs, piggy, piglet, whenever, piglets, whence, piggish