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Certainty & Possibility - Unlikely Situations

Master English idioms regarding unlikely situations, like "cast beyond the moon" and "too good to be true".

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English idioms related to Certainty & Possibility
to [be] a big if

to be a condition or requirement that is uncertain or potentially challenging to fulfill

Ex: We can finish the project by Friday, but getting approval in time is a big if. 
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cock-and-bull story

a story that seems impossible, particularly one that is used as an excuse

Ex: He came in late with some cock-and-bull story about his alarm clock exploding. 
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forget that noise

used to express anger and the fact that someone does not care about someone or something

Ex: Forget that noise; I'm not apologizing for something I didn't do. 
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I will eat my hat

used to say that one does not think that something will ever happen or has any chance of being true

Ex: If he finishes that report before Friday, I'll eat my hat. 
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to [cast] beyond the moon

to think about unlikely and unrealistic possibilities

Ex: He thinks the company will double his salary next month, but he's casting beyond the moon. 
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too good to be true

used to refer to something that exceeds one's expectations in such ways that makes it hard to believe

Ex: The job offer sounded too good to be true, so I checked the company carefully. 
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long shot
long shot
[noun]

an attempt made without having any high hopes of achieving success

Ex: Applying for that scholarship is a long shot, but you should still try. 
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(at|) the end of the rainbow

used to refer to something that is extremely desirable yet nearly impossible to obtain

Ex: For many young actors, a leading role in Hollywood feels like the end of the rainbow. 
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jam tomorrow

a promise of something good or desirable that will never be fulfilled

Ex: The workers were tired of jam tomorrow and wanted a real pay rise now. 
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to [swing] for the fences

to aim for goals that are unrealistic or extremely difficult to achieve

Ex: With only three months of experience, he's swinging for the fence by applying to lead the whole team. 
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pigs (can|might) fly
pigs can fly
[sentence]

used to express one's disbelief about something happening or being true

Ex: He says he'll start arriving early to work. Yeah, and pigs might fly. 
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pipe dream

an impractical or impossible idea, plan, or wish

Ex: Starting a company with no money, no product, and no team is just a pipe dream. 
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ghost of a chance

the slightest chance of succeeding or happening

Ex: Without more evidence, the case doesn't have a ghost of a chance in court. 
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to [promise] {sb} the (moon|earth|world)

to make promises that are impossible to be fulfilled or be kept

Ex: During the campaign, he promised voters the moon but delivered almost nothing. 
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to {not} [look] back

to have no desire or intention to return to past circumstances

Ex: After moving to the new city, she never looked back. 
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