pigs might fly

USAGE SUMMARY

'pigs might fly' is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is an idiomatic expression that means something is unlikely to happen. Example: "I know you promised to finish your project on time, but pigs might fly before you actually do it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Pigs might fly, too.

The New York Times

And pigs might fly.

The New York Times

And pigs might fly over Paisley.

The Guardian - Business

O.K., so pigs might fly before Pathmark offers a special on Red Wattle loin chops, but still.

The New York Times - Food

What it actually means is something akin to 'and pigs might fly'". Sometimes there's simply no way around a direct translation.

The Guardian

Mr Muluzi said he had had every assurance from Mr Mugabe: his government would follow the rule of law.And pigs might fly.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

And pigs might also fly in close formation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sparks might fly.

The Guardian

It might fly.

The New York Times - Arts

Since the great, coal-powered power station closed for good in 1983, there have been many 'pigs might fly' schemes to revive it, as a theme park, a science museum, a 1,000-bedroom 1,000-bedroomow, after thotelle of the building and the surrounowng site to afteraysian consorthem, asalee cofe of an ambitheus housing and shopping scheme.

BBC

An 'Anti-Dumbo' is a cross between 'the elephant in the room' (a problem visible to everyone, yet no one wants to address it), a 'black swan' (an unlikely, unexpected event with tremendous consequences) and 'pigs might fly' (an event so improbable, there is little to no chance of it happening).

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pigs might fly" to inject humor or sarcasm when expressing disbelief about a claim or prediction. It's particularly effective when responding to overly optimistic or unrealistic scenarios.

Common error

Avoid using "pigs might fly" in formal or serious contexts where sarcasm is inappropriate. Its inherent levity can undermine the intended message, especially in professional or academic settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pigs might fly" is to act as an idiomatic expression, functioning as a statement of disbelief or incredulity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it implies that something is highly unlikely to happen. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use as a sarcastic retort.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Books

10%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiom "pigs might fly" is a common expression used to convey disbelief or to suggest that something is highly improbable. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and frequently employed in informal contexts, particularly in news and media. While it's not suitable for formal settings, its sarcastic tone adds a layer of humor when questioning unrealistic claims. When you need alternatives to "pigs might fly", consider using phrases like "when hell freezes over" or "not a snowball's chance in hell" to express similar sentiments of incredulity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when hell freezes over

Emphasizes the impossibility of an event by referencing a condition that will never happen.

not a snowball's chance in hell

Highlights the lack of any possibility or likelihood of something occurring.

that'll be the day

Expresses strong doubt about the likelihood of a specific event.

when the cows come home

Indicates that something will happen after a very long time, implying it's unlikely.

never in a million years

Stresses the extreme improbability of something happening.

not if I can help it

Indicates a strong intention to prevent something from happening.

fat chance

Directly expresses a low probability or likelihood.

in your dreams

Dismisses a proposition as unrealistic or wishful thinking.

don't hold your breath

Suggests that waiting for something to happen is futile.

I'll believe it when I see it

Indicates skepticism and a need for evidence before accepting something.

FAQs

What does the idiom "pigs might fly" mean?

The idiom "pigs might fly" is a figure of speech used to express disbelief or to indicate that something is highly unlikely to happen. It's a sarcastic way of saying that something is impossible.

How can I use "pigs might fly" in a sentence?

You can use "pigs might fly" as a response to a statement you find hard to believe. For example, if someone says, "I'm sure he'll pay you back tomorrow," you could reply, "Yeah right, and pigs might fly."

What are some alternatives to "pigs might fly"?

Some alternatives to "pigs might fly" include "when hell freezes over", "not a snowball's chance in hell", or "that'll be the day".

Is it appropriate to use "pigs might fly" in formal writing?

No, it's generally not appropriate to use "pigs might fly" in formal writing. This idiom is informal and carries a sarcastic tone, making it unsuitable for professional or academic contexts. More neutral expressions of disbelief or improbability are preferable.