that'll be the day en · X
Pronunciation
- /ˌðætl̩ bi ðə ˈdeɪ/ (General-American)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˌðætl̩ biː ðə ˈdeɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Originally referring to a significant day in the future regarded as worth waiting for.
Meanings
-
(New-Zealand, idiomatic, informal) Said in reply to something that one believes will never happen.
Transmission from Klingon ship: Federation ship Enterprise. Surrender and prepare to be boarded. / Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart): That will be the day.
1990, Trent Christopher Ganino, Eric A. Stillwell, “Yesterday's Enterprise”, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 3, episode 15, spoken by Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart):I’m going to get into work on time today. — That’ll be the day!
Relateds
a week from next Tuesday · a cold day in hell · when hell freezes over · when pigs fly · until the cows come home
Synonyms
Translations (6)
el ζήσε Μάη μου (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen) · fr quand les poules auront des dents (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen) · pl akurat (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen) · es el día que la vaca vuele (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen) · fr c’est pas demain la veille (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen) · fi sen päivän kun näkisi (said in reply to something that one believes will never happen)