Are you looking for a colorful way to tell someone something will never happen? You could decide to say that it will come to be “when hell freezes over.” Dive into the meaning and origin of this idiom, and learn how to use it, in this post.
Meaning
The idiom “when hell freezes over” is a casual way to say “never.” When you say something will happen when hell freezes over, it means there is no chance it will.
The saying refers to the idea that hell is always burning hot.
A variation of this idiom is “until hell freezes over.” This variation has the opposite meaning — it means that something will continue indefinitely.
Example Usage
Are you wondering how to put the idiom “when hell freezes over” into action? Take a look at these examples to discover contexts where it would fit perfectly:
- “I’ll apologize to my brother when hell freezes over!”
- “The company has been talking about raising wages for the last three years. We’re beginning to think it will happen when hell freezes over.”
- “My elderly neighbors don’t care about the risk of tornadoes, and say they’ll leave their home when hell freezes over.”
- “He’ll be arguing with his wife until hell freezes over.” (The saying takes on the opposite meaning, “always” or “forever,” in this variation.)
Origin
The saying “when hell freezes over” likely originated in the United States sometime during the 19th century.
As with most idioms, the exact time when it came into use is unknown, but the Dictionary of Catch Phrases: American and British, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day, attributes “when hell freezes over” to that time period.
This idiom invokes a strong visual reaction. Both Christianity and Islam have strong ideas about hell as a horrific realm with eternally-burning fires. Hell is, as a punishment for evil deeds in life, as hot as it is torturous.
Hell will never freeze over, the saying implies. Therefore, saying that you’ll do something when hell freezes over means that it will never happen.
This idiom has sharply declined in popularity over the last few decades, but it still paints a vivid picture. If you would like to use it, know that the phrase “when hell freezes over” is considered rude and mildly offensive.
Phrases Similar to When Hell Freezes Over
Are you looking for similar phrases? You’re in luck! Other expressions and idioms that mean “never” include:
- Over my dead body — meaning you will never agree, and your conversational partner will have to kill you to make it happen.
- When pigs fly — meaning never.
- On a cold day in hell.
- When [a notoriously bad sports team] wins [the championship in that sport] — this is a modern take on the saying. “When the Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl” is one example.
- When Half-Life 3 comes out — you can use this phrase when you want to tell a gamer that something will never happen.
- No chance in hell.
Phrases Opposite to When Hell Freezes Over
If you’re looking for a saying that means “always,” you can try:
- Until hell freezes over — indicating a never-ending activity.
- Until the cows come home.
- Until you’re blue in the face.
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct saying is “when hell freezes over.” It means “never.”
Ways People May Say When Hell Freezes Over Incorrectly
The idiom “when hell freezes over” means “never.” Don’t use the phrase when talking about something that is unlikely; only use it to indicate that there is no chance that the event or situation you are talking about will come to pass.
Acceptable Ways to Say When Hell Freezes Over
You can use the phrase “when hell freezes over” whenever you need an informal, creative, and slightly offensive way to say “never.”
This idiom has largely fallen out of use, but even people who have never heard it before are likely to grasp its meaning right away.