Impossibility: English Vocabulary List

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

"I would never in a million years."

"She would not in a billion years agree to work for such a low salary at that company."

the slightest chance of something happening or being true

"The small team has a snowball's chance in hell."

"The underdog fighter had a snowball's chance in hell of winning against the undefeated champion in the ring."

something that seems impossible to occur

"It is a trip to the sun."

"Expecting him to apologise is like planning a trip to the sun completely impossible and never going to happen."

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

"I cannot find that book for love nor money."

"I could not find a taxi for love nor money because it was raining heavily."

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

"His plans are just pie in the sky."

"His dream of becoming a millionaire without working hard is just pie in the sky."

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

"Not by any stretch of the imagination."

"It's not by any stretch of the imagination that he could have completed that marathon in under three hours."

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

"That ship has sailed."

"You can't apply for that scholarship anymore; that ship has long sailed."

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

"We can ill afford to make a mistake now."

"After losing his job he could ill afford to eat at expensive restaurants every week."

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

"We have passed the point of no return."

"The plane had passed the point of no return so it could not turn back to the airport."

not allowed or possible

"A new car is out of the question."

"Going on holiday this year is out of the question because we simply do not have enough money."

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

"He will pay me back when chickens have teeth."

"He will apologise when chickens have teeth which means never in a million years."

used to express disbelief in something happening

"I will forgive him when hell freezes over."

"The two rival firms will collaborate when hell freezes over — their history is far too contentious."

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

"It will be a cold day in hell before he apologizes."

"It will be a cold day in hell before I apologise to him because he started the argument first."

used to say that one thinks that something will never happen

"He will apologise when two Sundays meet — meaning never."

"The two rivals will reconcile when two Sundays meet — there is simply too much history between them."

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

"You will get my car keys over my dead body."

"You will sell this family home over my dead body because I was born here."

to desire what cannot be achieved

"You cry for the moon every day."

"Asking for a perfect world without any problems is like crying for the moon, because imperfection is part of human nature."

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

"That option is now off the table."

"The proposal is off the table now because nobody could agree on the main terms."

a hope or wish that cannot be realized or fulfilled

"Do not build castles in the air."

"His plan to become a millionaire by next year is just a castle in the air with no real foundation."

used to emphasize that something is completely impossible or prohibited

"The area is no-go."

"The area is no go and tourists are advised to avoid it due to high crime rates."

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

"No way, never."

"No way will I agree to such an unreasonable demand from my boss."