A snowball's chance in hell
A snowball's chance in hell
/ə ˈsnəʊbɔːlz tʃɑːns ɪn hɛl/
Definition
Meaning: A snowball's chance in hell refers to a situation where something is extremely unlikely or has almost no possibility of happening, often used to convey the hopelessness or improbability of an outcome.
Signification: Une situation très peu probable ou presque impossible, souvent utilisée pour exprimer l'improbabilité d'un résultat.
Note: This idiom is often used humorously or to emphasize the sheer difficulty of a task or challenge. A snowball zero chance of surviving in hell. To lessen the zero chance even more, this expression if often used in the negative: He doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell.
Word Analysis
French synonyms
» Chance quasi inexistante
» Aucune chance
» Impossibilité totale
» Situation irréaliste
» Aucune possibilité
[Il n'y avait aucune chance qu'ils réussissent à gagner contre une équipe aussi forte.]
English synonyms
» No chance
» Slim to none
» Impossible odds
» Long shot
» Zero possibility
[She had no chance of convincing him after everything that had happened.]
Example Dialogue
Pule: "Hey, do you think there's a chance they’ll win the case against the company?"
Keletso: "Honestly, given everything that's happened, there’s about a snowball's chance in hell."
Pule: "Yeah, their chances are practically nonexistent."
Keletso: "The evidence is all against them, and they have no strong arguments."
Pule: "Exactly. It's not looking good at all."
Keletso: "They might as well prepare for the worst, they have no chance to succeed."
Pule: "True, sometimes the odds are just too stacked against you."
Etymology
Origin: The phrase "a snowball's chance in hell" is believed to have originated in the 19th century, likely as a humorous exaggeration of the impossibility of an event occurring. The image of a snowball, which would rapidly melt in hell’s extreme heat, conveys the utter hopelessness of the situation. The phrase has since become a popular idiom to describe any event with virtually no chance of success, often used in a sarcastic or humorous context to emphasize impossibility.
Audience
The phrase "a snowball's chance in hell" is commonly used in informal contexts to emphasize the near impossibility of a situation. It is often employed humorously or to express skepticism about an unlikely outcome.
When to use: Use "a snowball's chance in hell" when describing a situation where there is little to no chance of success, often in a lighthearted or sarcastic tone. For example: "He has a snowball's chance in hell of winning the election after all the controversies."
Dictionary Meaning
The Free Dictionary defines it this way: 'An infinitely small possibility, chance, or likelihood, to the point of being impossible. Usually used in the phrase not have a snowball's chance in hell. One of the examplse given is: "That candidate doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning an election in this part of the state."
News Snippet
"There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States," [Trudeau] said in a post on X.
"Workers and communities in both our countries benefit from being each other's biggest trading and security partner."
Read the full article at The Daily Maverick
Extra! Extra!
For a fun and engaging exploration of our word of the day, how's it going?, watch the following…
Video Lesson One
Video Lesson Two
WordReference
When exploring the nuances of words, sometimes dictionaries don't provide enough context. The WordReference Forums offer insightful discussions that delve into the subtleties of language, including idiomatic expressions, usage nuances, and translations across languages.
Here are some quick links to help you navigate WordReference for deeper understanding:
» Read about today's word of the day.
» English⇄English–Discuss and learn about words and their usage.
» English⇄French–Explore translations and linguistic nuances
» Synonyms⇄Antonyms–Contextual variations, etc.
Common Idioms and Expressions
A popsicle's chance in hell: An expression used to describe something that is extremely unlikely or impossible.
Example: "He thought he could win the race, but with that injury, he had a popsicle's chance in hell."
A popsicle's chance in a heatwave: A humorous way to describe something that has no chance of succeeding or surviving in extreme conditions.
Example: "Trying to convince her to change her mind is like giving a popsicle a chance in a heatwave—it's just not going to happen."
A popsicle's chance in the desert: A phrase emphasizing the impossibility of something surviving or succeeding in an inhospitable environment.
Example: "Getting that old car to run again? It has a popsicle's chance in the desert."
A popsicle's chance in a sauna: A playful expression to describe something that is doomed to fail in an environment where it cannot survive.
Example: "His plan to start a snow-shoveling business in Florida had a popsicle's chance in a sauna."
A popsicle's chance in July: A lighthearted way to describe something that is highly unlikely, especially in a context where conditions are unfavorable.
Example: "Getting everyone to agree on the proposal? That's got a popsicle's chance in July."
A chance in a million: A way of describing something that is highly improbable but not entirely impossible.
Example: "Winning the lottery is a chance in a million, but someone has to win it!"
In the last chance saloon: A phrase meaning that someone is facing their final opportunity to succeed or avoid failure.
Example: "After missing multiple deadlines, he's in the last chance saloon—if he fails again, he's out of a job."
A dog's chance: A way of saying that someone has a very slim or almost nonexistent chance of success.
Example: "With all the competition, he doesn’t have a dog's chance of getting that promotion."
Comments
Post a Comment