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French Expression
Meaning | when pigs fly | |
Literally | when hens have teeth | |
Register | normal | |
Pronunciation | [ka(n) lay pool (z)o ro(n) day da(n)] | |
IPA | [kã le pul (z)o rɔ̃ de dã] | |
(optional liaison between poules and auront) |
Usage notes: The French expression quand les poules auront des dents is a colorful way of saying “not a chance!” or “it’ll never happen!” The equivalent English barnyard expression is “when pigs fly,” but there are other possible translations, including “when hell freezes over” and “never in a month of Sundays.”
Par exemple…
Il m’a demandé s’il pouvait emprunter mon mobile, et j’ai répondu : « Oui, bien sûr … quand les poules auront des dents ! » | He asked if he could borrow my cellphone, and I responded, "Yes, of course… when pigs fly!" | |
– Quand vas-tu venir avec nous à l’opéra ? – Quand les poules auront des dents ! |
– When are you going to come with us to the opera? – When hell freezes over! |
Synonymous, informal expressions
- à la Saint-Glinglin
- ce n’est pas demain la veille

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