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Certitude et Possibilité - Impossibilité

Découvrez des idiomes anglais liés à l'impossibilité, y compris "pie in the sky" et "cry for the moon".

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English idioms related to Certainty & Possibility
{not|never} in a (thousand|million|billion) years

used to say that the chances of something happening or being true are very slim

jamais de la vie, même pas en rêve

jamais de la vie, même pas en rêve

Ex: Never in a million years did I think he would apologize first. 
a snowball's chance in hell

the slightest chance of something happening or being true

la moindre chance, un infime espoir

la moindre chance, un infime espoir

Ex: Without a lawyer, he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the case. 
a trip to the sun

something that seems impossible to occur

quelque chose d'impossible, un pur impossible

quelque chose d'impossible, un pur impossible

Ex: Getting everyone to agree on the first try would be a trip to the sun. 
for love (or|nor) money

used to refer to something that cannot be done or obtained in any way

pour rien au monde, quoi qu'on fasse

pour rien au monde, quoi qu'on fasse

Ex: I couldn't find a taxi for love or money. 
pie in the sky

something that is very good or desirable but highly unlikely to happen or be real

rêve irréalisable, château en Espagne

rêve irréalisable, château en Espagne

Ex: A rent-free apartment downtown sounds wonderful, but it's pie in the sky. 
by (any|no) stretch (of the imagination|)

used to refer to something that is impossible or is extremely hard to imagine or obtain

même de loin, absolument pas

même de loin, absolument pas

Ex: By no stretch of the imagination can this be called a fair deal. 
no way
no way
[Phrase]

used to indicate that something is impossible, unacceptable, or absolutely will not happen under any conditions

hors de question, jamais de la vie

hors de question, jamais de la vie

Ex: No way am I signing that contract without a lawyer. 
(the|that) ship has (long|) sailed

used to say that an offer or possibility is not renewable or available any more

c'est trop tard, l'occasion est passée

c'est trop tard, l'occasion est passée

Ex: You could have applied last month, but that ship has sailed. 
to ill afford {sth}

to be unable to do or finish something without being harmed or suffering its consequences

ne pas pouvoir se permettre, le payer cher

ne pas pouvoir se permettre, le payer cher

Ex: The company can ill afford another delay after losing so many clients. 
point of no return

the time when it becomes impossible for one to return to a previous place or state or to make a different decision

point de non-retour, seuil irréversible

point de non-retour, seuil irréversible

Ex: Once the documents were signed, we had passed the point of no return. 
out of the question

not allowed or possible

hors de question, inacceptable

hors de question, inacceptable

Ex: A pay cut is out of the question after all the extra hours we worked. 
when chickens have teeth

said to mean that it is impossible for something to ever happen

quand les poules auront des dents, à la Saint-Glinglin

quand les poules auront des dents, à la Saint-Glinglin

Ex: He said he would apologize when chickens have teeth. 
when hell freezes over

used to express disbelief in something happening

jamais, jamais de la vie

jamais, jamais de la vie

Ex: He'll admit he was wrong when hell freezes over. 
cold day in hell

used for saying that it is completely unlikely that something ever happens

jamais, jamais de la vie

jamais, jamais de la vie

Ex: It'll be a cold day in hell before he apologizes. 
when two Sundays meet

used to say that one thinks that something will never happen

jamais, jamais de la vie

jamais, jamais de la vie

Ex: He'll clean the kitchen when two Sundays meet. 
over {one's} dead (body|corpse)

used to show that one will do whatever one can to stop something from happening

il faudra me passer sur le corps, jamais de la vie

il faudra me passer sur le corps, jamais de la vie

Ex: You want to sell Grandma's house? Over my dead body. 
to [cry] for the moon

to desire what cannot be achieved

vouloir l'impossible, rêver l'inaccessible

vouloir l'impossible, rêver l'inaccessible

Ex: Asking a brand-new company to beat the market leader in a month is crying for the moon. 
off the table

(of a proposal, topic, or offer) unavailable or incapable of being considered

plus sur la table, n'est plus envisagé

plus sur la table, n'est plus envisagé

Ex: A merger is off the table after last week's disagreement. 
castle in the (air|sky)

a hope or wish that cannot be realized or fulfilled

château en Espagne, rêve inaccessible

château en Espagne, rêve inaccessible

Ex: His plan to become a billionaire by next year is just a castle in the air. 
no-go
no-go
[Adjectif]

used to emphasize that something is completely impossible or prohibited

totalement exclu, hors de question

totalement exclu, hors de question

Ex: Smoking inside the building is a no-go. 
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