English Idioms for "Impossibility"

Explore English idioms that relate to impossibility, including "pie in the sky" and "cry for the moon".

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not / never in a thousand years [phrase]

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

Ex: Not in a thousand years did I expect him to actually show up on time .

a snowball's chance in hell [phrase]

the slightest chance of something happening or being true

Ex: When he applied for the job without the required qualifications , he knew he had a snowball 's chance in hell of getting hired .

a trip to the sun [phrase]

something that seems impossible to occur

Ex: Her dream of becoming a famous singer overnight was compared to desiring a trip to the sun , both unattainable .

for love or money [phrase]

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

Ex: And you still ca n't get a good daily woman now to clean , not for love or money .

pie in the sky [phrase]

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

Ex: is dreams of becoming a rock star and touring the world appeared to be just pie in the sky until he got a record deal .

by any stretch (of the imagination) [phrase]

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

Ex: By no stretch of the imagination can we consider this project a success ; it was a complete failure .

no way [phrase]

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

Ex: You 're no way getting my keys after you totaled the car last week .

the ship has (long) sailed [sentence]

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

Ex: She realized that her chance to study abroad had passed; the ship had sailed, and she couldn't join the program now.

to ill afford something [phrase]

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

Ex: The small business owner knew he could ill afford to lose any more customers during the pandemic.

point of no return [phrase]

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

Ex: When they boarded the plane , they knew it was the point of no return ; there was no going back .

out of the question [phrase]

not allowed or possible

Ex: Borrowing his friend 's antique car for the road trip was out of the question ; it was far too valuable .

when chickens have teeth [phrase]

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

Ex: She promised to cook dinner for the whole family, but her cooking skills are so poor that it's like waiting for chickens to grow teeth.

when hell freezes over [sentence]

used to express disbelief in something happening

Ex: She promised to give up her favorite dessert , but that will happen when hell freezes over .

cold day in hell [phrase]

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

Ex: Getting him to apologize is about as probable as a cold day in hell ; he rarely admits fault .

when two Sundays meet [sentence]

used to say that one thinks that something will never happen

Ex: Getting her to give up chocolate is as improbable as when two Sundays come together; she's a true chocoholic.

over one's dead body [phrase]

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

Ex: Over my dead corpse !

to cry for the moon [phrase]

to desire what cannot be achieved

Ex: Wanting a perfect relationship without any disagreements is like crying for the moon ; conflicts are a part of every relationship .

off the table [phrase]

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

Ex: Due to budget cuts , any additional spending is off the table for this year .

castle in the air [phrase]

a hope or wish that cannot be realized or fulfilled

Ex: She spent hours imagining a world where all her problems disappeared , but she knew it was just a castle in the air .

no-go [adjective]

used to emphasize that something is completely impossible or prohibited

Ex: They wanted to have an outdoor picnic, but the rainy weather made it a no go.

Certainty & Possibility
Certainty	Uncertainty	Unlikely Situations	Impossibility
Luck & Chance	Possibility	Likelihood	Expectations
Unexpected	Unbelievable	Definite or Unavoidable