neigh on impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neigh on impossible" is a playful variation of "nigh on impossible" and is not standard in written English.
You can use it in informal contexts where humor or wordplay is appropriate, particularly when discussing something that is very difficult to achieve. Example: "Completing this project in one week is neigh on impossible given the current circumstances."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

His sick masterpieces have faced so much censorship that today, it's still neigh on impossible to lay your hands on hard copies Nekromantik II: The Return of the Loving Dead, for example, was nationally confiscated and the legal case dragged on for two years before the movie finally went on limited release. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Unfortunately, the little shit-window is brightly back-lit and it was neigh-on impossible to get a photo with actual feces in the frame.

Vice

Snapcart's newest milestone is a $10 million Series A funding round to take it beyond its current focus on Indonesia and Philippines (a third office strictly for business development sits in Singapore) and into other frontier markets where the long tail of retail is neigh-on-impossible to track in detail.

TechCrunch

Early birds can snag one for around $260, but we're going to say neigh on this one.

TechCrunch

Right now, it is nigh on impossible.

The Economist

"But she took on an impossible job.

The New York Times

Circus animals Donkey Oaty, Sandshoe Panda and Dulcie Neigher and their impossible dream of righting wrongs done to ringmaster Mr Cervantes.

The Guardian

In Thailand it verges on the impossible.

The Economist

Eccentrics raise the bar on the impossible.

The New York Times

Get help on The Impossible Quiz Book.

WikiHow

Hopping on one leg was impossible.

Brain

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "neigh on impossible" sparingly and primarily in informal writing or speech where a touch of humor or wordplay is desired. Ensure your audience will understand the intent and appreciate the playful nature of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "neigh on impossible" in formal documents or professional communications. Opt for more standard alternatives like "virtually impossible" or "nearly impossible" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neigh on impossible" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the adjective "impossible". It serves to intensify the degree of impossibility, indicating that something is very close to being impossible, but with a playful or humorous tone. Ludwig examples demonstrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "neigh on impossible" is an informal expression signifying something nearly impossible, a playful twist on "nigh on impossible". Ludwig's analysis suggests it's best reserved for informal settings where humor is appropriate. The grammatical status is considered acceptable, although not standard. While not frequently used, when it does appear, it's across various contexts, including news, science, and wiki content. For professional or academic writing, alternatives like "virtually impossible" or "almost impossible" are more suitable. Remember to consider your audience and the desired tone when deciding whether to use "neigh on impossible". It is important to consider its usage in informal contexts as highlighted by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually impossible

Replaces the playful "neigh on" with a more standard adverb "virtually", maintaining a similar level of impossibility.

almost impossible

Substitutes "neigh on" with "almost", creating a slightly less emphatic expression of impossibility.

practically impossible

Uses "practically" instead of "neigh on", indicating that something is difficult to achieve in practice.

nearly impossible

Replaces "neigh on" with "nearly", suggesting that something is close to being impossible.

borderline impossible

Emphasizes the extreme difficulty with the word borderline, making it just on the edge of impossible.

close to impossible

Indicates a high degree of difficulty, suggesting it's approaching impossibility.

as good as impossible

Implies a very low probability of success, almost to the point of being impossible.

scarcely possible

Highlights the minimal chance of something happening, emphasizing the difficulty.

highly improbable

Shifts the focus to probability, indicating a very low likelihood of success or occurrence.

not a snowball's chance in hell

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey extreme impossibility in an informal way.

FAQs

What does "neigh on impossible" mean?

The phrase "neigh on impossible" is an informal and playful way of saying that something is very close to being impossible. It's similar in meaning to "nigh on impossible" or "almost impossible".

Is it correct to use "neigh on impossible" in formal writing?

No, "neigh on impossible" is generally considered informal and should be avoided in formal writing. Use alternatives like "virtually impossible" or "almost impossible" in formal contexts.

What are some alternatives to "neigh on impossible"?

Some alternatives to "neigh on impossible" include "virtually impossible", "nearly impossible", "practically impossible", and "almost impossible".

Where might I encounter the phrase "neigh on impossible"?

You might encounter "neigh on impossible" in informal conversations, blog posts, or creative writing. It's less common in formal news articles or academic papers.