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When pigs fly

January 23, 2023

For the sketch comedy group, see The Flying Pigs. For the Polish film known in English as Flying Pigs, see Flying Pigs.
For other uses, see When Pigs Fly (disambiguation).

The phrase "when pigs fly" (alternatively, "pigs might fly") is an adynaton—a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility. The implication of such a phrase is that the circumstances in question (the adynaton, and the circumstances to which the adynaton is being applied) will never occur. The phrase has been used in various forms since the 1600s as a sarcastic remark.[1]

A doctored photograph showing a winged pig

Meaning

 
John Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara took a small pig with him on board an aeroplane in 1909

"When pigs fly" is an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition. There are numerous variations on the theme; when an individual with a reputation for failure finally succeeds, onlookers may sarcastically claim to see a flying pig. ("Hey look! A flying pig!")[2] Other variations on the phrase include "And pigs will fly", this one in retort to an outlandish statement.

An example occurs in the film The Eagle Has Landed: an Irish secret agent working for the Nazis replies to a German general speaking of Germany's shortly winning World War II, "Pigs may fly, General, but I doubt it!" Later, when the Irishman sees German soldiers parachuting before an attack, he says to himself, "Mother of God! Flying pigs!"

An identical phrase, used to express impossibilities, exists in Romanian, Când o zbura porcul, literally meaning "When the pig shall fly"; an equivalent also implying an animal is La Paștele cailor, literally: "on horses' Easter". Similar phrases in English include "when hell freezes over", the Latin expression "to the Greek calends", and "and monkeys might fly out of my butt", popularized in Wayne's World skits and movies. The German "Wenn Schweine fliegen können!" is identical with the English saying , although the older proverb "Wenn Schweine Flügel hätten, wäre alles möglich" ("if pigs had wings, everything would be possible") is in more common use.[3] They are examples of adynata.[4] In Finnish, the expression "kun lehmät lentävät" (when cows fly) is used because of its alliteration. In French, the most common expression is "quand les poules auront des dents" (when hens will have teeth). In Russian, a popular expression with a similar meaning is "когда рак на горе свистнет" (when the crayfish will whistle on the mountain). In medieval Hebrew manuscripts, the expression "until the donkey ascends the ladder" is attested.[5]

The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous. In his Fourth Book of Gargantua and Pantagruel from 1552, François Rabelais makes the aphorism into a dramatic event, when the giant Pantagruel fights the Chitterlings and its champion, "a huge, fat, thick, grizzly swine, with long and large wings, like those of a windmill."[6]

At least one appears in the works of Lewis Carroll:

"Thinking again?" the Duchess asked, with another dig of her sharp little chin.
"I've a right to think," said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried.
"Just about as much right," said the Duchess, "as pigs have to fly ..." — Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 9.[7]

American literature author John Steinbeck was told by his professor that he would be an author when pigs flew. When he eventually became a novelist, he started to print every book he wrote with the insignia "Ad astra per alas porci" (to the stars on the wings of a pig).[8] He sometimes added an image of a flying pig, called "Pigasus".

Pigasus was a flying pig character in the Oz books written by Ruth Plumly Thompson in the 1930s.[9]

History

The first known use of the phrase "when pigs fly" comes from English lexicographer John Withals, who wrote A Shorte Dictionarie for Yonge Begynners, a Latin-English dictionary from 1616. Withal wrote "pigs fly in the ayre with their tayles forward", implying the impossibility not only of the flight of pigs but also backwards flight.[citation needed] Other uses of the phrase in famous literature include the aforementioned Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Since 1616, the phrase has been used to denote impossibility.

References

  1. ^ "when pigs fly origin". Largest Idioms Dictionary. Theidioms.com. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Pigs might fly". World Wide Words. 2002-04-06. Retrieved 2013-04-14.
  3. ^ "When pigs fly". 3 October 2021.
  4. ^ Haylett, Trevor (June 4, 1993). "Tennis: Martina primed for revenge". The Independent. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  5. ^ Buda, Zsofi. "Until the donkey ascends the ladder: Hebrew scribal formulae". British Library: Asian and African Studies Blog. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  6. ^ Rabelais, François. "Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel". Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  7. ^ Carroll, Lewis (1991). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The Millennium Fulcrum Edition 3.0 (PDF). p. 69.
  8. ^ John Steinbeck: A Biography, Jay Parini, Holt Publishing, 1996
  9. ^ Jack Snow, Who's Who in Oz, Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; p. 161.

External links

 
Look up when pigs fly in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

January 23, 2023
when, pigs, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2022, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, sketch, . This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message For the sketch comedy group see The Flying Pigs For the Polish film known in English as Flying Pigs see Flying Pigs For other uses see When Pigs Fly disambiguation The phrase when pigs fly alternatively pigs might fly is an adynaton a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility The implication of such a phrase is that the circumstances in question the adynaton and the circumstances to which the adynaton is being applied will never occur The phrase has been used in various forms since the 1600s as a sarcastic remark 1 A doctored photograph showing a winged pigContents 1 Meaning 2 History 3 References 4 External linksMeaning Edit John Moore Brabazon 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara took a small pig with him on board an aeroplane in 1909 When pigs fly is an adynaton a way of saying that something will never happen The phrase is often used for humorous effect to scoff at over ambition There are numerous variations on the theme when an individual with a reputation for failure finally succeeds onlookers may sarcastically claim to see a flying pig Hey look A flying pig 2 Other variations on the phrase include And pigs will fly this one in retort to an outlandish statement An example occurs in the film The Eagle Has Landed an Irish secret agent working for the Nazis replies to a German general speaking of Germany s shortly winning World War II Pigs may fly General but I doubt it Later when the Irishman sees German soldiers parachuting before an attack he says to himself Mother of God Flying pigs An identical phrase used to express impossibilities exists in Romanian Cand o zbura porcul literally meaning When the pig shall fly an equivalent also implying an animal is La Paștele cailor literally on horses Easter Similar phrases in English include when hell freezes over the Latin expression to the Greek calends and and monkeys might fly out of my butt popularized in Wayne s World skits and movies The German Wenn Schweine fliegen konnen is identical with the English saying although the older proverb Wenn Schweine Flugel hatten ware alles moglich if pigs had wings everything would be possible is in more common use 3 They are examples of adynata 4 In Finnish the expression kun lehmat lentavat when cows fly is used because of its alliteration In French the most common expression is quand les poules auront des dents when hens will have teeth In Russian a popular expression with a similar meaning is kogda rak na gore svistnet when the crayfish will whistle on the mountain In medieval Hebrew manuscripts the expression until the donkey ascends the ladder is attested 5 The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries old Scottish proverb though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous In his Fourth Book of Gargantua and Pantagruel from 1552 Francois Rabelais makes the aphorism into a dramatic event when the giant Pantagruel fights the Chitterlings and its champion a huge fat thick grizzly swine with long and large wings like those of a windmill 6 At least one appears in the works of Lewis Carroll Thinking again the Duchess asked with another dig of her sharp little chin I ve a right to think said Alice sharply for she was beginning to feel a little worried Just about as much right said the Duchess as pigs have to fly Alice s Adventures in Wonderland Chapter 9 7 American literature author John Steinbeck was told by his professor that he would be an author when pigs flew When he eventually became a novelist he started to print every book he wrote with the insignia Ad astra per alas porci to the stars on the wings of a pig 8 He sometimes added an image of a flying pig called Pigasus Pigasus was a flying pig character in the Oz books written by Ruth Plumly Thompson in the 1930s 9 History EditThe first known use of the phrase when pigs fly comes from English lexicographer John Withals who wrote A Shorte Dictionarie for Yonge Begynners a Latin English dictionary from 1616 Withal wrote pigs fly in the ayre with their tayles forward implying the impossibility not only of the flight of pigs but also backwards flight citation needed Other uses of the phrase in famous literature include the aforementioned Alice s Adventures in Wonderland Since 1616 the phrase has been used to denote impossibility References Edit when pigs fly origin Largest Idioms Dictionary Theidioms com Retrieved 28 October 2018 Pigs might fly World Wide Words 2002 04 06 Retrieved 2013 04 14 When pigs fly 3 October 2021 Haylett Trevor June 4 1993 Tennis Martina primed for revenge The Independent Retrieved May 13 2009 Buda Zsofi Until the donkey ascends the ladder Hebrew scribal formulae British Library Asian and African Studies Blog Retrieved 4 March 2020 Rabelais Francois Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel Project Gutenberg Retrieved 2022 02 26 Carroll Lewis 1991 Alice s Adventures in Wonderland The Millennium Fulcrum Edition 3 0 PDF p 69 John Steinbeck A Biography Jay Parini Holt Publishing 1996 Jack Snow Who s Who in Oz Chicago Reilly amp Lee 1954 New York Peter Bedrick Books 1988 p 161 External links Edit Look up when pigs fly in Wiktionary the free dictionary Humorous Internet memorandum RFC 1925 insists that with sufficient thrust pigs fly just fine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title When pigs fly amp oldid 1126189180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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