Dictionary

when pigs fly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Never.
   • "You know, my friend," said Mongan, "that I can't get Duv Laca back unless the King of Leinster asks me to take her back, for a bargain is a bargain." "That will happen when pigs fly," said mac an Dáv, "and," said he, "I did not make any bargain with any king that is in the world." 1920, James Stephens, Irish Fairy Tales, Mongan's Frenzy:

Forms

Relateds

snowball's chance in hell · first of never · never in a month of Sundays · camel through the eye of a needle · a cold day in Hell · when Hell freezes over · pigs might fly · ad kalendas Graecas

Synonyms

at no time · ne'er · never ever · never · when pigs fly · in the reign of Queen Dick · when two Sundays meet · not while pussy's a cat · at latter Lammas · when Hell freezes over · when two Sundays come together · on the second Tuesday of the week · sine die

Translations (75)

az daş gül açanda (never, expressed by an idiom) · mk на куково лето (never, expressed by an idiom) · ro la paștele cailor (never, expressed by an idiom) · cmn 天落紅雨，馬生角 /天落红雨 (never, expressed by an idiom) · az dəvənin quyruğu yerə dəyəndə (never, expressed by an idiom) · fi kun lehmät lentävät (never, expressed by an idiom) · de am Sankt-Nimmerleins-Tag (never, expressed by an idiom) · pl w grudniu po południu (never, expressed by an idiom) · it alle calende greche (never, expressed by an idiom) · la ad kalendas Graecas (never, expressed by an idiom) · hu majd ha cigánygyerekek potyognak az égből (never, expressed by an idiom) · is þegar jólin ber upp á páska (never, expressed by an idiom) · ga lá Thaidhg na dTadhgann (never, expressed by an idiom) · de wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen (never, expressed by an idiom) · ca quan les gallines pixin (never, expressed by an idiom) · es el día que las vacas vuelen (never, expressed by an idiom) · tl sa pag-itim ng tagak (never, expressed by an idiom) · cs až naprší a uschne (never, expressed by an idiom) · nl wanneer Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen (never, expressed by an idiom) · sv när grisar flyger (never, expressed by an idiom) · sh кад на врби роди грожђе (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr aux calendes grecques (never, expressed by an idiom) · eo en la tago de Sankta Neniamo (never, expressed by an idiom) · srn te kakafowru kisi tifi (never, expressed by an idiom) · cs až půjde žid z pouti (never, expressed by an idiom) · ms menunggu kucing bertanduk (never, expressed by an idiom) · it il giorno di San Mai (never, expressed by an idiom) · gd gu Là Luain (never, expressed by an idiom) · la prius pariet locusta Lucam bovem (never, expressed by an idiom) · es cuando San Juan agache el dedo (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr à Pâques ou à la Trinité (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr la semaine des quatre jeudis (never, expressed by an idiom) · hu majd ha fagy (never, expressed by an idiom) · yi װען משיח װעט קומען (never, expressed by an idiom) · ro când o zbura porcul (never, expressed by an idiom) · eu haizerik ez den urtean (never, expressed by an idiom) · eo kiam la ratoj seksumos kun la musoj (never, expressed by an idiom) · ro la Sfîntu-așteaptă (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr quand les poules auront des dents (never, expressed by an idiom) · yi ווען ס׳וועט זײַן דרײַ טעג ראש־⁠חודש (never, expressed by an idiom) · et kui kana pissib (never, expressed by an idiom) · pt no Dia de São Nunca à tarde (never, expressed by an idiom) · af as die perde horings kry (never, expressed by an idiom) · hu majd ha piros hó esik (never, expressed by an idiom) · gd nuair a gheibh thu nead na cuthaige (never, expressed by an idiom) · tl sa pagputi ng uwak (never, expressed by an idiom) · hu holnapután kiskedden (never, expressed by an idiom) · fy as de keallen op it iis dûnsje (never, expressed by an idiom) · nl met sint-juttemis (never, expressed by an idiom) · es cuando las ranas críen pelo (never, expressed by an idiom) · pl na świętego nigdy (never, expressed by an idiom) · cs na svatého Dyndy (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr à la Saint-Glinglin (never, expressed by an idiom) · lv kad cūkas lidos (never, expressed by an idiom) · pt no Dia de São Nunca (never, expressed by an idiom) · id menunggu ayam bayar pajak (never, expressed by an idiom) · el του αγίου ποτέ (never, expressed by an idiom) · lv kad pūcei aste ziedēs (never, expressed by an idiom) · id sampai lebaran kuda (never, expressed by an idiom) · uk коли на долоні волосся виросте (never, expressed by an idiom) · ro când mi-oi vedea ceafa (never, expressed by an idiom) · ro când va face plopul pere (never, expressed by an idiom) · hu sohanapján (never, expressed by an idiom) · la cum mula peperit (never, expressed by an idiom) · pt quando os porcos voarem (never, expressed by an idiom) · br kentre ma moc'h kelieno (never, expressed by an idiom) · id sampai lebaran monyet (never, expressed by an idiom) · cs až kohout vejce snese (never, expressed by an idiom) · uk не бачити як свого носа (never, expressed by an idiom) · gd an latha a bheireas an cuilean an t-ugh (never, expressed by an idiom) · ga lá Philib an Chleite (never, expressed by an idiom) · sh kad na vrbi rodi grožđe (never, expressed by an idiom) · bew ampé lebaran monyèt (never, expressed by an idiom) · it quando gli asini voleranno (never, expressed by an idiom) · fr à la Saint Glinglin (never, expressed by an idiom)