Meaning & use
pigs might fly
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformalBritish
Used to say that something is completely unlikely or impossible to happen.
Grammar: Fixed phrase; it stands alone as a response or comment, often after a statement of unlikely hope.
Patterns
- and pigs might fly
- if pigs might fly
He says he'll pay you back next week. And pigs might fly!
She promised to arrive on time — pigs might fly.
If he ever cleans his room, pigs might fly.
Common combinations
- and pigs might fly
- You think the boss will give us a raise? And pigs might fly.
- pigs might fly before
- Pigs might fly before that team wins the championship.
- say pigs might fly
- When I told her the plan, she just said pigs might fly.
Synonyms and how they differ
- when hell freezes over
- Stronger and more dramatic; pigs might fly is lighter and often humorous.
- not a chance
- Direct and informal; pigs might fly is more idiomatic and usually said as a comment on someone else's words.
- fat chance
- Sarcastic and informal; pigs might fly is a fixed phrase used in the same way but sounds more British.
Opposites
Commonly confused: pigs might fly or when pigs fly?
pigs might fly vs when pigs fly
This is the American version of the same idea, used as a response meaning 'never'.
Practice
A: 'I think he'll finally apologize.' B: 'Yes, and ______.'
Choose one answer.
The fixed idiom is 'pigs might fly', meaning the apology is very unlikely. The other options change the idiom and do not carry the same meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pigs might fly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.