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Certezza e Possibilità - Impossibilità

Esplora i modi di dire inglesi relativi all'impossibilità, inclusi "pie in the sky" e "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

mai nella vita, neanche per sogno

mai nella vita, neanche per sogno

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

the slightest chance of something happening or being true

la minima possibilità, un filo di speranza

la minima possibilità, un filo di speranza

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

something that seems impossible to occur

una cosa impossibile, fuori dal mondo

una cosa impossibile, fuori dal mondo

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

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

in nessun modo, per nulla al mondo

in nessun modo, per nulla al mondo

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

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

sogno irrealizzabile, castello in aria

sogno irrealizzabile, castello in aria

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

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

neanche lontanamente, per niente

neanche lontanamente, per niente

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

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

neanche per sogno, mai e poi mai

neanche per sogno, mai e poi mai

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

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

quel treno è già passato, ormai è troppo tardi

quel treno è già passato, ormai è troppo tardi

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

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

non potersi permettere, costare caro

non potersi permettere, costare caro

Ex: The company can ill afford another delay after losing so many clients. 
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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

punto di non ritorno, momento senza ritorno

punto di non ritorno, momento senza ritorno

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

not allowed or possible

fuori discussione, impensabile

fuori discussione, impensabile

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

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

quando gli asini voleranno, alle calende greche

quando gli asini voleranno, alle calende greche

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

used to express disbelief in something happening

mai, mai e poi mai

mai, mai e poi mai

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

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

mai, mai e poi mai

mai, mai e poi mai

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

used to say that one thinks that something will never happen

mai, mai e poi mai

mai, mai e poi mai

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

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

sul mio cadavere, non lo permetterò mai

sul mio cadavere, non lo permetterò mai

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

to desire what cannot be achieved

volere l'impossibile, inseguire l'impossibile

volere l'impossibile, inseguire l'impossibile

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

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

fuori discussione, non più in gioco

fuori discussione, non più in gioco

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

a hope or wish that cannot be realized or fulfilled

castello in aria, sogno irrealizzabile

castello in aria, sogno irrealizzabile

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

used to emphasize that something is completely impossible or prohibited

assolutamente vietato, fuori discussione

assolutamente vietato, fuori discussione

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