if pigs could fly
wishful thinking - about an impossibility (Wunschdenken)
TRANSLATION
Wunschdenken
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"Thatcher was once quoted as saying 'Britain will have a woman Prime Minister if pigs could fly'."
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Did you
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Did you know?
Etymology: 'If a pig had wings, it could fly' has been traced back to 'Proverbs of Scotland' (1862). And the Walrus in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) by Lewis Carroll questioned 'whether pigs had wings.'
This phrase is found in varying forms:
- If a pig (pigs) had wings, one could fly
- If that happens, then pigs can fly
- When pigs fly, that's when, etc.
Another English idiom with the same meaning is: "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride."
Cultural note: The Russians also talk about "when shrimps whistle."
Etymology: 'If a pig had wings, it could fly' has been traced back to 'Proverbs of Scotland' (1862). And the Walrus in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) by Lewis Carroll questioned 'whether pigs had wings.'
This phrase is found in varying forms:
- If a pig (pigs) had wings, one could fly
- If that happens, then pigs can fly
- When pigs fly, that's when, etc.
Another English idiom with the same meaning is: "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride."
Cultural note: The Russians also talk about "when shrimps whistle."
