when pigs fly

Submitted by Guest on 2012-12-21

Idiomatic translations of "when pigs fly "

Arabic
تلاتين شباط
Explanations:
Arabic (other varieties)
اذا حجت البقر على قرونها
Arabic (other varieties)
في المشمش
Arabic (other varieties)
لما أبو الهول ينطق
Arabic (other varieties)
لما الهرم يتحرك (من مطرحه)
Azerbaijani
Qırx ildə bir dəfə
Explanations:
Azerbaijani
Qırx ilin başında
Explanations:
Azerbaijani
Dəvənin quyruğu yerə dəyəndə
Explanations:
Belarusian
На тое лета, пасля абеда, гэтакаю парою
Explanations:
Bulgarian
През крив макарон
Explanations:
Bulgarian
когато цъфнат налъмите
Explanations:
Catalan
quan les vaques volin
Explanations:
Chinese
天方夜譚
Explanations:
Chinese
水中撈月
Explanations:
Chinese (Cantonese)
豬乸會上樹
Explanations:
Croatian
Malo sutra
Explanations:
Croatian #1, #2, English
Czech
Až naprší a uschne
Explanations:
Danish
En kold dag i helvede
Explanations:
Dutch
als Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen
Explanations:
Dutch
Als de kippetjes tanden krijgen
Explanations:
English
Yes, pigs are flying.
Explanations:
English
on a cold day on hell
Explanations:
English
in your dreams
Explanations:
English
on a long day in January
Explanations:
English
when hell freezes over
Explanations:
English
When the sun rises in the west
Explanations:
English
that will be the day
Explanations:
English
on a cold day in July
Explanations:
Esperanto
Kiam kankro sur ia monto fajfos
Explanations:
Estonian
kui sead lendavad
Filipino/Tagalog
kapag pumuti ang uwak
Explanations:
Filipino/Tagalog
Kapag umitim ang tagak
Explanations:
Finnish
Kun lehmät lentää
Explanations:
French
Tous les trente-six du mois
Explanations:
French
La semaine des quatre jeudis
Explanations:
French
Quand les poules auront des dents
Explanations:
Chinese, French #1, #2
French
à la Saint Glinglin
Explanations:
French
aux calendes grecques
Explanations:
German
wenn die Hunde mit dem Schwanz bellen
Explanations:
German
alle Jubeljahre (wieder)
German
wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen
German
am Nimmerleinstag
German
wenn Schweine fliegen können
Explanations:
German
Wenn es Katzen hagelt
Explanations:
German
man hat schon Pferde kotzen sehn
Explanations:
German
zu Pfingsten auf dem Eise
Greek
Στις ελληνικές καλένδες
Explanations:
Greek
Στον μήνα που δεν έχει εννιά
Explanations:
Greek
Του Αγίου Ποτέ
Explanations:
Greek (Cypriot)
Την κότσιηνη Πέφτη
Explanations:
Hebrew
היית מת
Explanations:
Hungarian
Majd ha piros hó esik
Hungarian
Sohanapján kiskedden
Explanations:
English #1, #2
Indonesian
sampai lebaran monyet
Explanations:
Italian
Quando gli asini voleranno
Explanations:
Italian
Nel giorno di San Mai
Explanations:
Italian
Alle calende greche
Explanations:
Korean
해가 서쪽에서 뜬다면
Explanations:
English #1, #2
Kurdish (Sorani)
کە بەرازەکان فڕین
Latin
Ad Kalendas Graecas
Explanations:
Macedonian
Ќе биде кога ќе летаат свињите!
Explanations:
Malay
Sampai kucing bertanduk
Explanations:
Persian
شتر در خواب بیند پنبه دانه
Explanations:
Persian
وقت گل ني
Explanations:
English #1, #2, #3
Persian
زهی خیال خام ، زهی خیال باطل
Explanations:
Persian
سالي به دوازده ما
Explanations:
Polish
na Święty Nigdy/ na Świętego Nigdy/ na Święte Nigdy
Explanations:
Polish
Kiedy świnie zaczną latać
Explanations:
Portuguese
Nem que a vaca tussa
Explanations:
Portuguese
Uma vez na vida e outra na morte.
Explanations:
Portuguese
quando as galinhas tiverem dentes
Explanations:
Romanian
la paştele cailor
Explanations:
Romanian
când va zbura porcul
Explanations:
Romanian
Cand o face plopul mere și răchita micșunele...
Explanations:
Romanian
când o să zboare porcul
Explanations:
Russian
Как до китайской пасхи.
Explanations:
Russian
тридцать первого июня
Explanations:
Russian
на турецкую пасху
Russian
Когда рак на горе свистнет
Russian
После дождичка в четверг
Explanations:
Serbian
На Куково лето
Serbian
Kad na vrbi rodi grožđe
Explanations:
Serbian
30. ili 31. februara
Explanations:
Serbian
Кад на врби роди грожђе
Explanations:
English, Serbian #1, #2
Serbian
o Svetom Nikad
Explanations:
Slovenian
In potem svizec zavije čokolado v folijo
Explanations:
Spanish
Cuando las vacas vuelen
Explanations:
Spanish
cuando las gallinas críen dientes
Explanations:
Spanish
Cada muerte de obispo/ De Pascuas a Ramos
Explanations:
Spanish
Cuando las ranas críen pelo
Spanish
De guindas a brevas
Spanish
Cuando san Juan baje el dedo
Explanations:
Spanish
cuando los cerdos vuelen
Explanations:
Tajik
кай думи шутур ба замин меафтад
Explanations:
Thai
ตอนเซเว่นปิด
Explanations:
Turkish
kırmızı karlar yağdığında
Explanations:
Turkish
balik kavaga ciktigi zaman
Turkish
asla ve kat'a
Turkish
Balık kavağa çıkınca.
Explanations:
Turkish
Çıkmaz ayın son çarşambasında
Explanations:
English #1, #2, #3
Turkish
iki dünya bir araya gelince
Explanations:
Turkish
kırk yılda bir
Explanations:
English #1, #2
Ukrainian
на Миколи та й ніколи
Explanations:
Ukrainian
Щось у лісі здохло
Explanations:
Ukrainian
Коли рак на горі свисне
Explanations:
Ukrainian
як виросте трава на помості
Explanations:
Ukrainian
Стиць-триндиць
Explanations:
Venetan
Quando i musi xołerà
Explanations:

Meanings of "when pigs fly "

Arabic

عندما تطير الخنازير أي مستحيل أو من سابع المستحيلات

Explained by Llegó Dolor Del CorazónLlegó Dolor Del Corazón on Sun, 11/09/2016 - 16:41
Arabic

عندما تطير الخنازير ، تقال عندما يكون من المستحيل حدوث شيئاً ما
[ فى المشمش ]

Explained by MernaMerna on Mon, 23/01/2017 - 15:38
Explained by MernaMerna
Armenian

Եթէ կոճղը ծիլ տայ:
Literally said: If the log buds!
The story is about a coppler's apprentice who swears to a frequenting creditor: "If this log buds you would get your money!"

Trust the people who kept their promise, a matter of honor.

Do you think creditor gave up? Neighbors have seen him watering the log.

Կը պատմուի թէ հնակարկատին աշակերտը, այսպէս երդուել է յաճախող պարտատիրոջը. «Եթե այս կոճղը ծաղկի դուք ալ կը ստանաք ձեր գումարը»

Վստահեք այն մարդկանց, ովքեր պահում են իրենց խոստումը պատվի:

Ինչ եք կարծում, պարտատերը յուսայատել է՞: Հարեւանները տեսել ենվկոճղին ամենօրեայ անոր ջրելը:

Explained by VartanVartan on Thu, 21/07/2016 - 12:48
Explained by VartanVartan
Azerbaijani

Hər hansı bir şeyin mümkünsüzlüyünü göstərmək üçün istifadə olunan ifadə. Hərfi mənası "Donuzlar uçanda" deməkdir.

Explained by RadixIceRadixIce on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 12:55
Explained by RadixIceRadixIce
Bulgarian

когато полетят прасетата
на кукуво лято

Explained by UbstzrUbstzr on Sat, 29/10/2016 - 13:57
Explained by UbstzrUbstzr
Croatian

Nikada

Explained by Mate PralijaMate Pralija on Fri, 03/06/2016 - 06:31
Explained by Mate PralijaMate Pralija
Czech

'when pigs fly' znamená 'až prasata budou letět' v češtině, znamená to prakticky až naprší a uschne, něco co se nikdy nestane.

Explained by Guest on Sun, 21/08/2016 - 23:45
Explained by Guest
English

It means something that will never happen.
Example:

John:Natalia will you date me?
Natalia:When pigs fly. (which means no or never)

Explained by mabushiimabushii on Sat, 22/12/2012 - 03:40
Explained by mabushiimabushii

"When pigs have wings."

You hear this version more often.

- lyricata 7 years ago
No you don't. Certainly not in North America (Canada/USA), anyhow. - Ditzygypsy 7 years ago
English

Yes, but "once in a blue moon" is surely not an equivalent! never and rarely isn't the same...

Explained by MaulerMauler on Thu, 27/12/2012 - 20:22
Explained by MaulerMauler
I think so, too: "alle Jubeljahre" and "once in a blue moon" surely are not the same. But doesn't "when pigs fly" mean the same as "once in a blue moon"? - Sciera 11 years ago
surely not - Mauler 11 years ago
English

"When pigs fly" is an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition. There are numerous variations on the theme; when an individual with a reputation for failure finally succeeds, onlookers may sarcastically claim to see a flying pig. ("Hey look! A flying pig!") [1] Other variations on the phrase include "And pigs will fly," this one in retort to an outlandish statement.

Explained by Đ ε Ł ε ε μ ωĐ ε Ł ε ε μ ω on Sun, 21/08/2016 - 16:08
Explained by Đ ε Ł ε ε μ ωĐ ε Ł ε ε μ ω
Is this an expression used in the US? Is it used anywhere else? - Besatnias 7 years ago
Filipino/Tagalog

Isang bagay kailanmang hindi maaring mangyari

Explained by hariboneagle927hariboneagle927 on Mon, 24/12/2012 - 12:02
Explained by hariboneagle927hariboneagle927
Finnish

Kun siat lentävät - Eli jokin asia ei tule koskaan tapahtumaan

Explained by Pgz18Pgz18 on Sun, 15/10/2017 - 16:23
Explained by Pgz18Pgz18
French

Littéralement: Quand les cochons voleront
Équivalence française: Quand les poules auront des dents

Explained by crimson_anticscrimson_antics on Sat, 22/12/2012 - 22:56
Explained by crimson_anticscrimson_antics
German

am Sankt Nimmerleinstag

Explained by jemflowerjemflower on Mon, 24/04/2017 - 13:55
Explained by jemflowerjemflower
Greek

Δεν πρόκειται να γίνει

Explained by StavroulaStavroula on Sun, 11/09/2016 - 16:38
Explained by StavroulaStavroula
Greek

Όταν θα βγάλει ο Ήλιος κέρατα.

Explained by UnitfreeUnitfree on Sat, 15/04/2017 - 05:49
Explained by UnitfreeUnitfree
Greek

Όταν η γιαγιά μου είχε πατίνια

Explained by Guest on Thu, 07/12/2017 - 22:26
Explained by Guest
Italian

Quando voleranno i maiali, quando qualcosa non succederà mai o con pochissima probabilità.

Explained by Guest on Sat, 01/07/2017 - 16:21
Explained by Guest
Romanian

Cand o zbura porcul

Explained by DammieDammie on Mon, 19/12/2016 - 10:15
Explained by DammieDammie
Russian

Никогда.

Explained by Ann_75_45Ann_75_45 on Fri, 09/03/2018 - 15:11
Explained by Ann_75_45Ann_75_45
Serbian

дословно „када свиње полете”; „кад' на врби роди грожђе”

Explained by PavlicaPavlica on Fri, 21/12/2012 - 21:00
Explained by PavlicaPavlica
Serbian

Kad svinje polete/ Kad na vrbi rodi grožđe/ Nikad

Explained by DellyDelly on Wed, 11/01/2017 - 17:53
Explained by DellyDelly
Swedish

När grisar flyger

Explained by SoPinkSoPink on Sun, 07/08/2016 - 18:17
Explained by SoPinkSoPink
Turkish

Kırmızı kar yağınca (Türkçe) - Asla olmayacak bir olayı veya durumu anlatmak için kullanılır

Explained by Ufuk TANACIUfuk TANACI on Wed, 14/09/2016 - 18:39
Explained by Ufuk TANACIUfuk TANACI
Turkish

Temmuzda kar yağınca.

Explained by Mert OzturkMert Ozturk on Sat, 18/02/2017 - 17:53
Explained by Mert OzturkMert Ozturk
Turkish

Asla olmayacak bir durumu anlatır
-Çıkmaz ayın son çarşambası
-Kırmızı kar yağınca
-Balık kavağa çıkınca

Explained by socallmebellasocallmebella on Sun, 27/08/2017 - 12:40
Explained by socallmebellasocallmebella

"when pigs fly " in lyrics

Brett Anderson - Back To You

[Brett Anderson]
You flick your mane and click your fingers again
And from your back, you call my name
And like a fool, I run right back to you

Arezo Nikbin - when you go

as you go, tell me when you'll come back
you'll come back when pigs fly
you'll come back when pigs fly

Michaela Laws - Osana VS Ayano

Midori: Remember. This is a rap battle.
That means NO WEAPONS.
That means you, Ayano.

Stephan Eicher - You owe me nothing

I can't hear you that well
It has been so long
Whence are you calling me?
Whence comes this urgent need

Serge Gainsbourg - Twelve beauties under your belt

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve

When you’ve got twelve beauties under your belt 1
Two duchesses and ten typists

  • 1. ‘literally 'in the skin’ there's also an allusion to "avoir une balle dans la peu" to have taken a bullet. In addition the expression "Douze balles dans la peau" arises from the French Resistance - the punishment reserved for traitors.

Yanka Dyagileva - Sold out!

To die in front of mobs - that’s a commercial-like success
To smash down on stones the photogenic face
To beg humanly and to look into the open eyes
Of the kind strangers

Dariush - Two Travelers

Two travelers at the door, the two freer in the wind
The fallen from sonnet, an opportunity with no cry

My eye kisses this purest moment

Song Parodies - I like pig butts

Yo! Everybody!
This is Sir Croaks-A-Lot
And I'm not here to talk about big butts
No, I'm into pig butts!

Skyclad - The Wrong Song

Another bad break - burst another bubble
Another lost cause - here's another trouble
Another heart ache - one more chance gone
Another lost chord in yet another wrong song.

Guy Clark - Tornado Time In Texas

Blow the tattoo off of your arm

Now when pigs fly, no I mean, really fly
You can bet that it′s blowin' hard