Idioms are special phrases where the words together have a completely different meaning than what the individual words mean on their own. People use them every day to make their conversations more fun, colorful, and expressive. In this article, you will learn many interesting idioms that people use when they want to talk about something that will not happen or will happen at an impossible time.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for never that mean impossibility or things that happen almost never. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Never
1. When pigs fly
Meaning: Used to say that something will absolutely never happen.
For Example: My little brother said he would clean his messy room when pigs fly. / Do you think our cat will learn to speak? Yes, when pigs fly!
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely never / Impossible event
2. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Something that happens very rarely or almost never.
For Example: We get to stay up past midnight only once in a blue moon. / Snow falls in our town once in a blue moon.
Other Ways to Say: Very rarely / Seldom ever
3. Hell freezes over
Meaning: A dramatic way to say something will truly never take place.
For Example: I will let him borrow my brand new video game when hell freezes over. / She said she would eat broccoli for breakfast when hell freezes over.
Other Ways to Say: Not in a million years / Fat chance
4. Till the cows come home
Meaning: For a very long time, or for so long that it might as well be never ending.
For Example: You can argue about who gets the front seat till the cows come home, but mom decides. We played outside in the sunshine till the cows come home.
Other Ways to Say: For a long time / Endlessly
5. Not on your life
Meaning: A strong way to refuse to do something or say something will never happen.
For Example: Would I jump off that scary high rock? Not on your life! He asked to borrow my favorite comic book, and I said not on your life.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely not / No way
6. Fat chance
Meaning: There is little to no possibility of something happening.
For Example: Fat chance we are getting extra homework on a Friday afternoon! He thought he could win the race running backward, but fat chance of that.
Other Ways to Say: Highly unlikely / No chance
7. In a million years
Meaning: Used to emphasize that something will never happen or be thought of.
For Example: I would never tell a lie to my best friend in a million years. She never thought she would win the grand art prize in a million years.
Other Ways to Say: Never ever / Not in a lifetime
8. Snowball’s chance in hell
Meaning: Having zero chance of success or survival in a tough situation.
For Example: That old broken bicycle has a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the race. He had a snowball’s chance in hell of passing the test without studying.
Other Ways to Say: Zero possibility / Hopeless odds
9. Not for all the tea in China
Meaning: Refusing to do something no matter how great the reward is.
For Example: I would not eat that stinky green cheese not for all the tea in China. She refused to jump into the cold lake not for all the tea in China.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely no way / For nothing in the world
10. Pigs might fly
Meaning: A playful way to express disbelief that something will ever happen.
For Example: He thinks he can finish his chores in two minutes? Well, pigs might fly! She said she would walk to school on her hands, and I told her pigs might fly.
Other Ways to Say: Highly impossible / Never going to happen
11. Catch me doing that
Meaning: Expressing strong refusal to ever take part in a specific activity.
For Example: Catch me doing that dangerous roller coaster ride again! If you think I will clean the muddy garage, catch me doing that.
Other Ways to Say: Count me out / Never doing it
12. Not likely
Meaning: Stating that an event or idea has almost zero chance of occurring.
For Example: Will the teacher cancel all homework for a week? Not likely! He thinks he can score ten goals today, but not likely.
Other Ways to Say: Doubtful / Highly improbable
13. When two Sundays come together
Meaning: An expression meaning an event that will never happen at all.
For Example: He said he would pay me back my dollar when two Sundays come together. She expects us to believe that fairy tale when two Sundays come together.
Other Ways to Say: Never in time / An impossible day
14. Till doomsday
Meaning: For an extremely long time, lasting into the distant future.
For Example: They could talk about their favorite video games till doomsday. You can keep looking for your lost pencil till doomsday, but it is gone.
Other Ways to Say: Forever / Until the end of time
15. Not by a long shot
Meaning: Not even close to being true, correct, or possible.
For Example: Did we finish cleaning the huge kitchen? Not by a long shot! He thought he was the fastest runner in school, but not by a long shot.
Other Ways to Say: Not nearly / Nowhere close
16. Out of the question
Meaning: Something that is completely impossible and will not be allowed.
For Example: Staying up until midnight on a school night is completely out of the question. Getting a pet elephant for our small apartment is out of the question.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible / Not allowed
17. No way Jose
Meaning: A fun, casual way of telling someone “never” or “no.”
For Example: Can I eat a whole tub of ice cream before dinner? No way Jose! He asked to use my new paint set, and I said no way Jose.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely not / No chance
18. Not on my watch
Meaning: A promise that something bad will never be allowed to happen while you are here.
For Example: Someone trying to sneak an extra cookie? Not on my watch! He swore nobody would ruin the team project, not on his watch.
Other Ways to Say: Preventing it / Over my dead body
19. Over my dead body
Meaning: A fierce declaration that you will stop something from happening completely.
For Example: You want to borrow my favorite comic book without asking? Over my dead body! She said she would let her little brother ruin her painting over her dead body.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely forbidden / Never ever
20. Not on your nelly
Meaning: A quirky British phrase meaning absolutely not or never.
For Example: Will I eat Brussels sprouts covered in hot sauce? Not on your nelly! He asked to take my new scooter for a ride, and I said not on your nelly.
Other Ways to Say: Definitely not / No way
21. Not a chance
Meaning: Completely denying the possibility of an event taking place.
For Example: Is there any chance we are skipping math class today? Not a chance! She asked if I wanted to jump into the muddy puddle, and I said not a chance.
Other Ways to Say: Zero percent / Impossible
22. Scarcely ever
Meaning: Happening so infrequently that it almost never occurs.
For Example: We scarcely ever see our quiet neighbors working in their front yard. He is so healthy that he scarcely ever catches a cold.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely ever / Almost never
23. Seldom if ever
Meaning: Almost never happening under any normal circumstances.
For Example: That old bakery is seldom if ever open on a snowy Sunday morning. She seldom if ever forgets to bring her homework folder to school.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely / Scarcely
24. Hard pressed
Meaning: Having an extremely difficult time finding an example of something happening.
For Example: You would be hard pressed to find a cleaner bedroom than my sister’s room. We were hard pressed to find anyone who liked the sour milk.
Other Ways to Say: Struggling to find / Almost nonexistent
25. Scant few
Meaning: Such a small amount that it is almost like none at all.
For Example: There were a scant few cookies left in the jar after the party. Only a scant few students finished the tricky bonus puzzle.
Other Ways to Say: Barely any / Very few
26. Next to nothing
Meaning: An amount so tiny that it is practically zero.
For Example: The broken toy cost next to nothing at the garage sale. We had next to no time to finish our art project before the bell rang.
Other Ways to Say: Practically zero / Almost none
27. Hard to come by
Meaning: Something that is rare and almost impossible to find.
For Example: Honest people who admit their mistakes are hard to come by. Good vintage baseball cards are hard to come by these days.
Other Ways to Say: Rare / Scarce
28. Few and far between
Meaning: Things that happen very rarely or are scattered far apart.
For Example: Sunny days during the rainy spring season are few and far between. Good moments of quiet in our noisy house are few and far between.
Other Ways to Say: Very rare / Scarce
29. Barely any
Meaning: An amount so small that it is nearly nonexistent.
For Example: There was barely any juice left in the carton for breakfast. We had barely any time to pack our bags before the bus arrived.
Other Ways to Say: Almost none / Hardly any
30. Not a single one
Meaning: Used to emphasize that zero items or people fit a description.
For Example: Not a single one of us wanted to clean up the spilled glitter. She checked the box, but not a single one of her pencils was there.
Other Ways to Say: Zero / Not any
31. None to speak of
Meaning: Having such a small amount that it is not worth mentioning.
For Example: We had any snacks left? We had none to speak of after recess. Did he have any trouble with the test? He had none to speak of.
Other Ways to Say: Practically none / Nothing notable
32. Not one jot
Meaning: Not even the smallest possible amount or particle.
For Example: I do not care not one jot about who wins the silly argument. Her opinion did not change not one jot after hearing the excuse.
Other Ways to Say: Not a bit / Not at all
33. Not a whit
Meaning: Not even a tiny bit of difference or change.
For Example: The spooky story scared me not a whit when I read it. His funny joke helped my bad mood not a whit.
Other Ways to Say: Not at all / Zero difference
34. Not by any stretch
Meaning: Even when exaggerating, something is still not true or possible.
For Example: Is my little brother a quiet reader? Not by any stretch of the imagination! Was the test easy? Not by any stretch!
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely not / Nowhere near true
35. Out of the question entirely
Meaning: Something completely forbidden with no room for discussion.
For Example: Going to the park without a jacket in the snow is out of the question entirely. Eating candy for breakfast is out of the question entirely.
Other Ways to Say: Totally forbidden / Completely impossible
36. Not on this earth
Meaning: Something that does not exist anywhere in the world.
For Example: Where could I find a purple dog? Not on this earth! He searched for a flying turtle, but found none on this earth.
Other Ways to Say: Nowhere / Impossible to find
37. Not in a pink moon
Meaning: A playful variation meaning something will never take place.
For Example: Will I ever enjoy eating raw spinach? Not in a pink moon! She said she would wear a clown suit to class, but not in a pink moon.
Other Ways to Say: Never / Not happening
38. Not for love nor money
Meaning: Impossible to get or achieve no matter what you offer.
For Example: We could not find a single green crayon for love nor money. That rare toy was sold out everywhere for love nor money.
Other Ways to Say: Unobtainable / Absolutely unavailable
39. Beyond the bounds of possibility
Meaning: Something that goes entirely against the laws of reality.
For Example: Flying without an airplane is completely beyond the bounds of possibility. Lifting a school bus with one hand is beyond the bounds of possibility.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible / Unrealistic
40. Not a ghost of a chance
Meaning: Having zero chance of happening, like a nonexistent spirit.
For Example: The tired team had not a ghost of a chance of winning the tournament. We had not a ghost of a chance of finishing the maze in ten seconds.
Other Ways to Say: Zero chance / Hopeless
41. Not an earthly
Meaning: Having no earthly possibility of occurring or succeeding.
For Example: Do we have an earthly chance of building a castle out of sand in the wind? Not an earthly! He had not an earthly idea how to solve the puzzle.
Other Ways to Say: No chance / Impossible
42. Beyond belief
Meaning: So extraordinary or impossible that it is hard to accept.
For Example: The dog chased its own tail in a circle for an hour, which was beyond belief. The size of the giant pumpkin was beyond belief.
Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Unbelievable
43. Unheard of
Meaning: Something that has never been seen, done, or experienced before.
For Example: Getting ten snow days in a row is completely unheard of in our town. Scoring five home runs in one game is nearly unheard of.
Other Ways to Say: Unprecedented / Never seen before
44. Stranger than fiction
Meaning: A situation so strange that it seems like it could never happen in real life.
For Example: Our pet cat and dog became best friends, which is stranger than fiction. The wild weather we had today was stranger than fiction.
Other Ways to Say: Bizarre / Unbelievable reality
45. Never in all my born days
Meaning: An expression used to show immense shock that something happened.
For Example: Never in all my born days have I seen a pumpkin that big! She said, never in all my born days have I heard such a loud noise.
Other Ways to Say: First time ever / Most surprising thing
46. Not on your sweet life
Meaning: A friendly, emphatic way of refusing to do something.
For Example: Will I jump into the muddy puddle wearing my clean white shoes? Not on your sweet life! He asked to eat my last piece of chocolate, and I said not on your sweet life.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely not / No way
47. Not on your bottom dollar
Meaning: Refusing to bet or believe that something will happen.
For Example: Would I bet my favorite toy that it will snow in July? Not on your bottom dollar! He said our team would win, but not on your bottom dollar.
Other Ways to Say: Unlikely / Unbelievable bet
48. Not a hope
Meaning: Having zero expectation of success or victory.
For Example: We had not a hope of finding the lost ring in the dark sand. There was not a hope of finishing the puzzle without the picture box.
Other Ways to Say: Zero hope / Hopeless
49. Not a dog’s chance
Meaning: Having absolutely no chance of winning or succeeding.
For Example: That tiny paper boat had not a dog’s chance in the raging river rapids. He had not a dog’s chance of guessing the secret password.
Other Ways to Say: No chance / Hopeless odds
50. Not an earthly chance
Meaning: Lacking any realistic possibility in the real world.
For Example: We had not an earthly chance of reaching the playground before the rain started. There was not an earthly chance the cat would fetch the ball.
Other Ways to Say: Zero possibility / Unrealistic
51. Not for the world
Meaning: Refusing to do something because you value it too much.
For Example: I would not give away my handmade birthday card for the world. She would not miss her best friend’s party for the world.
Other Ways to Say: For nothing / Absolutely not
52. Not on any account
Meaning: A strict rule that something must never be done.
For Example: You must not open the mysterious box on any account. On no account should you feed chocolate to the pet dog.
Other Ways to Say: Under no circumstances / Never allowed
53. Under no circumstances
Meaning: A firm rule stating that an action is strictly forbidden.
For Example: Under no circumstances are you allowed to cross the street without an adult. Students may not use their phones in class under no circumstances.
Other Ways to Say: Strictly forbidden / Never
54. By no means
Meaning: Definitely not true or certainly not the case.
For Example: Our team is winning the tournament, but we are by no means finished practicing. Is the test easy? By no means!
Other Ways to Say: Certainly not / Definitely not
55. In no way
Meaning: Expressing that a statement is completely untrue or impossible.
For Example: In no way did I mean to break your favorite building blocks. There is in no way enough time to bake cookies before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely not / Not at all
56. Far from it
Meaning: The exact opposite of what someone just suggested.
For Example: Were you tired after playing outside? Far from it, I have tons of energy! Is the puzzle easy? Far from it!
Other Ways to Say: Not even close / Quite the opposite
57. Not by a mile
Meaning: Falling far short of a goal or correct answer.
For Example: Did I guess the correct number of jellybeans? Not by a mile! Was our team winning the race? Not by a mile!
Other Ways to Say: Nowhere close / Not nearly
58. Not on your Nellie’s watch
Meaning: A playful way to say something will never happen on your shift.
For Example: Will anyone steal cookies from the jar? Not on your Nellie’s watch! He made sure the rules were followed, not on his watch.
Other Ways to Say: Guarded / Protected
59. No question about it
Meaning: Something that is certain, though often used to contrast things that never happen.
For Example: Will pigs fly today? There is no question about it, they won’t! He is never late, no question about it.
Other Ways to Say: Without a doubt / Certain
60. Never ever
Meaning: A strong, simple emphasis on something that will not take place.
For Example: I will never ever touch a hot stove burner again. She promised she would never ever pull her brother’s hair.
Other Ways to Say: Absolutely never / Forever not
Exercise to Practice
- My little brother said he would clean his room when ________ fly.
- We get to stay up past midnight only once in a ________ moon.
- I will let him borrow my video game when hell ________ over.
- You can argue about the TV remote till the cows come ________.
- Would I jump off that scary high rock? Not on your ________!
- ________ chance we are getting extra homework on a Friday afternoon!
- I would never tell a lie to my best friend in a million ________.
- That old broken bicycle has a snowball’s chance in ________ of winning.
- I would not eat that stinky green cheese not for all the tea in ________.
- He thinks he can finish his chores in two minutes? Well, pigs might ________!
- Catch me doing that dangerous roller coaster ride ________!
- Will the teacher cancel all homework for a week? Not ________!
- He said he would pay me back my dollar when two ________ come together.
- They could talk about their favorite video games till ________.
- Did we finish cleaning the huge kitchen? Not by a long ________!
Answer Key
- pigs
- blue
- freezes
- home
- life
- fat
- years
- hell
- China
- fly
- again
- likely
- Sundays
- doomsday
- shot
Conclusion
Learning these idioms is a wonderful way to understand how people express impossibility and rarity in everyday conversation. They make your writing and speaking much more vibrant, colorful, and fun to listen to.
Try using a few of these expressions the next time you want to playfully talk about something that will happen when pigs fly or once in a blue moon. You will love how much personality and excitement they bring to your stories!
