Idioms are fun phrases where the words together have a special meaning that is different from the literal meaning of each separate word. People use them in everyday conversations to make their speech colorful, engaging, and expressive. In this article, you will learn fifty interesting idioms about absolute impossibility, failing to succeed, and having no chance.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean having no chance, total impossibility, or zero hope of success. Let us get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for No Chance
1. Fat chance
Definition: A sarcastic way of saying there is almost zero probability of something happening.
Used in a Sentence: When I asked if our history test was cancelled, my teacher smiled and said fat chance. / He thought he could win the sprint race without practicing, but fat chance of that happening.
Similar Expressions: Highly unlikely / Almost zero chance
2. When pigs fly
Definition: Something that is completely impossible and will never, ever happen.
Used in a Sentence: When my younger brother asked if he could borrow my video game console forever, I told him he could have it when pigs fly. / Expecting our school mascot to walk into math class is like waiting for pigs to fly.
Similar Expressions: When hell freezes over / Not in a million years
3. A snowball’s chance in hell
Definition: Having absolutely no possibility of surviving or succeeding in a situation.
Used in a Sentence: Bringing an open ice cream cone near our hungry golden retriever gave it a snowball’s chance in hell. / The rookie chess player had a snowball’s chance in hell against the grandmaster.
Similar Expressions: Zero probability / Doomed entirely
4. Not in a million years
Definition: A strong way to say that something will never take place under any circumstances.
Used in a Sentence: I would not jump off that high cliff into the water not in a million years. / He promised he would never share my diary secret, not in a million years.
Similar Expressions: Absolutely never / Under no conditions
5. When hell freezes over
Definition: A dramatic expression emphasizing that an event will definitely never happen.
Used in a Sentence: My dad said he would wear a bright pink tuxedo to work when hell freezes over. / Expecting our lazy dog to fetch the newspaper by himself is going to happen when hell freezes over.
Similar Expressions: When pigs fly / Never on earth
6. Not on your life
Definition: An emphatic refusal indicating you would never permit something to happen.
Used in a Sentence: When asked if he would lend his brand-new skateboard to the neighborhood bully, he said, “Not on your life!” / Walking through the dark forest alone at midnight? Not on your life!
Similar Expressions: Absolutely not / No way ever
7. Catch me doing that
Definition: A firm refusal meaning you will never agree to participate in an activity.
Used in a Sentence: When my friends suggested riding the scariest roller coaster, I told them, “Catch me doing that!” / Catch me eating broccoli soup for dinner when pizza is an option.
Similar Expressions: Count me out / I refuse
8. Over my dead body
Definition: A fierce expression used to show you will prevent something from happening at all costs.
Used in a Sentence: When my sister tried to wear my favorite concert t-shirt without asking, I told her, “Over my dead body!” / Changing our puppy’s name to something silly? Over my dead body!
Similar Expressions: Never allowed / Absolute refusal
9. Out of the question
Definition: An idea or request that is completely impossible and will not be considered.
Used in a Sentence: Going to the midnight movie on a school night is completely out of the question. / Asking for extra dessert before eating dinner vegetables is out of the question.
Similar Expressions: Totally impossible / Unacceptable request
10. Not a cat in hell’s chance
Definition: Having zero chance of winning or succeeding at a task.
Used in a Sentence: With our broken bicycle chain, we had not a cat in hell’s chance of winning the race. / The amateur team had not a cat in hell’s chance against the regional champions.
Similar Expressions: Zero chance / Hopeless cause
11. Miss the boat
Definition: To lose your opportunity completely because you acted too late.
Used in a Sentence: He forgot to sign up for the art trip by Friday, so he completely missed the boat. / If you do not buy your concert tickets today, you will miss the boat.
Similar Expressions: Miss out / Lose opportunity
12. Bark up the wrong tree
Definition: To search for a solution or blame someone where there is zero chance of success.
Used in a Sentence: If you think I took your colored pencils, you are barking up the wrong tree. / The detective realized he was barking up the wrong tree when a new clue appeared.
Similar Expressions: Look incorrectly / Blame wrongly
13. Chase rainbows
Definition: To pursue goals that have no chance of coming true.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to become a professional athlete without ever practicing is just chasing rainbows. / Focus on achievable goals instead of chasing rainbows.
Similar Expressions: Pursue illusions / Dream impossibly
14. That dog won’t hunt
Definition: An excuse or plan that has no chance of working or convincing anyone.
Used in a Sentence: When he tried to claim his dog ate his science project online, the teacher said, “That dog won’t hunt.” / Suggesting we can finish a twenty-page essay in ten minutes? That dog won’t hunt.
Similar Expressions: That excuse fails / Unworkable plan
15. Talk to a brick wall
Definition: Trying to explain something to someone with whom you have zero chance of communication.
Used in a Sentence: Arguing with my little brother about cleaning his messy room is like talking to a brick wall. / Trying to convince the strict referee was like talking to a brick wall.
Similar Expressions: Unresponsive listener / Pointless talk
16. Dead in the water
Definition: A project, plan, or idea that has failed completely and has no chance of revival.
Used in a Sentence: Without funding from the school board, our playground improvement plan was dead in the water. / The broken startup business was dead in the water within a month.
Similar Expressions: Failed completely / Hopeless project
17. Up a creek without a paddle
Definition: Being in a terrible situation with no tools, help, or chance of an easy escape.
Used in a Sentence: Leaving our tent poles at home left our camping trip up a creek without a paddle. / If we lose our map in the woods, we will be up a creek without a paddle.
Similar Expressions: Trapped helplessly / In big trouble
18. Back to square one
Definition: Having your progress wiped out so you must start over with no initial advantage.
Used in a Sentence: When our computer file crashed before saving, we were sent right back to square one. / Failing the final exam meant the student had to go back to square one.
Similar Expressions: Start over / Reset progress
19. Not have a prayer
Definition: To have absolutely no hope or chance of succeeding.
Used in a Sentence: Without studying vocabulary terms all week, she did not have a prayer on the quiz. / Our small paper boat did not have a prayer in the rushing stream.
Similar Expressions: Zero hope / Doomed to fail
20. A hopeless case
Definition: A person, project, or problem that has no chance of improvement.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to fix my ancient bicycle chain felt like working on a hopeless case. / The old broken radio was a hopeless case, so we recycled it.
Similar Expressions: Beyond repair / Lost cause
21. Beat a dead horse
Definition: To waste time arguing about a topic that has zero chance of changing.
Used in a Sentence: Complaining about yesterday’s rainy weather is just beating a dead horse. / Let us stop arguing about the seating chart; we are just beating a dead horse.
Similar Expressions: Waste effort / Pointless discussion
22. Tilt at windmills
Definition: To fight imaginary enemies or pursue battles that cannot be won.
Used in a Sentence: Arguing with the automated vending machine when it takes your dollar is tilting at windmills. / He spent all afternoon tilting at windmills over school rules.
Similar Expressions: Fight lost causes / Chase illusions
23. Carry coals to Newcastle
Definition: To do something utterly pointless that has no chance of adding value.
Used in a Sentence: Bringing extra water bottles to a water park is like carrying coals to Newcastle. / Offering extra pencils to a stationery store is pointless like carrying coals.
Similar Expressions: Pointless action / Useless effort
24. Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
Definition: Trying to fix a problem when there is zero chance of preventing the damage.
Used in a Sentence: Checking the fence gates after the dog already ran away is like locking the stable door after the horse bolted. / Studying rules after failing the test is locking the stable door too late.
Similar Expressions: Too late for prevention / Useless aftermath fix
25. A drop in the ocean
Definition: A tiny amount that makes no noticeable difference to a massive problem.
Used in a Sentence: Donating one dollar to the million-dollar school fundraiser felt like a drop in the ocean. / Our small water leak was just a drop in the ocean compared to the storm flood.
Similar Expressions: Tiny amount / Insignificant fraction
26. Wishful thinking
Definition: Believing something will happen simply because you want it to, despite zero chance.
Used in a Sentence: Expecting school to be cancelled because of a single snowflake is just wishful thinking. / Hoping to win the raffle without buying a ticket is pure wishful thinking.
Similar Expressions: Unrealistic hope / Empty dreams
27. Build castles in the air
Definition: Creating grand plans based on ideas that have no chance of practical reality.
Used in a Sentence: Expecting to travel to Mars next weekend is just building castles in the air. / Do not build castles in the air about winning a contest you never entered.
Similar Expressions: Unrealistic plans / Daydreaming
28. In vain
Definition: Making a serious effort that ultimately produces zero results or success.
Used in a Sentence: All our searching for the lost key in the tall grass proved to be in vain. / She waited by the front door in vain for the package delivery.
Similar Expressions: Pointless effort / Unsuccessful attempt
29. Shoot for the moon
Definition: Trying to achieve an ambitious goal, sometimes with very low chances of success.
Used in a Sentence: Applying to every Ivy League university meant he was shooting for the moon. / Aiming to build a working robot in one night is shooting for the moon.
Similar Expressions: Ambitious goal / High aims
30. Empty promises
Definition: Commitments made by people who have no intention or chance of fulfilling them.
Used in a Sentence: The politician made empty promises about extra recess time that never happened. / Do not trust his empty promises of helping with chores.
Similar Expressions: False pledges / Broken words
31. Run out of steam
Definition: To lose all energy and momentum, leaving zero chance of finishing a task today.
Used in a Sentence: After working on the garden project for five hours, we finally ran out of steam. / The soccer team ran out of steam in the final ten minutes of the match.
Similar Expressions: Lose energy / Get exhausted
32. Out of the running
Definition: Having lost any chance of winning a competition or election.
Used in a Sentence: After dropping the baton during the relay race, our team was out of the running. / Missing the preliminary round put him out of the running for the trophy.
Similar Expressions: Disqualified / No longer competing
33. On thin ice
Definition: Being in a risky position where one minor mistake leaves zero chance of forgiveness.
Used in a Sentence: Showing up late to practice three times this week means you are on thin ice with the coach. / Breaking another house rule puts you on thin ice with your parents.
Similar Expressions: Risky position / Dangerous ground
34. Playing with fire
Definition: Engaging in dangerous behavior that guarantees negative consequences and trouble.
Used in a Sentence: Sneaking out of the house after curfew is like playing with fire. / Ignoring study guides before a final exam is playing with fire.
Similar Expressions: Taking huge risks / Dangerous actions
35. Built on sand
Definition: A plan or structure with a weak foundation that has zero chance of lasting.
Used in a Sentence: His excuse for missing homework was built on sand and fell apart immediately. / A business plan without a budget is built on sand.
Similar Expressions: Weak foundation / Fragile plan
36. Cut your losses
Definition: To stop investing time or money in a failing project with no chance of success.
Used in a Sentence: When the broken toy cost more to fix than to replace, we decided to cut our losses. / Realizing the experiment failed, she cut her losses and started a new test.
Similar Expressions: Abandon failing ventures / Stop wasting time
37. Throw in the towel
Definition: To surrender and admit defeat because you have no chance of winning.
Used in a Sentence: After losing five points in a row, the chess player decided to throw in the towel. / Do not throw in the towel on your math homework just yet; keep trying.
Similar Expressions: Surrender / Admit defeat
38. Meet your Waterloo
Definition: Facing a final, unavoidable defeat with zero chance of escape.
Used in a Sentence: The chess champion finally met his Waterloo against the clever grandmaster. / The villain met his Waterloo when the hero trapped him in the final scene.
Similar Expressions: Face defeat / Ultimate loss
39. Cooked your goose
Definition: To ruin your chances of success completely through a bad mistake.
Used in a Sentence: Forgetting to submit the project on time really cooked your goose for the grade. / Cheating on the spelling quiz cooked his goose with the teacher.
Similar Expressions: Ruin chances / Spoil success
40. Wash your hands of it
Definition: To declare that you are completely done with a hopeless, failing situation.
Used in a Sentence: After the group project fell apart, she washed her hands of the whole mess. / He washed his hands of the broken car repair venture.
Similar Expressions: Walk away / Disown involvement
41. A lost cause
Definition: A person or situation that cannot be saved and has zero chance of success.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to teach our cat to fetch slippers like a dog is a completely lost cause. / Fixing the shattered smartphone screen was a lost cause.
Similar Expressions: Hopeless situation / Unsavable task
42. Past redemption
Definition: So badly damaged or flawed that there is zero chance of fixing it.
Used in a Sentence: The burnt loaf of bread left in the oven was past redemption. / His ruined attendance record felt past redemption for the semester.
Similar Expressions: Beyond saving / Unfixable
43. Beyond repair
Definition: An item broken so severely that it has no chance of working again.
Used in a Sentence: Dropping the porcelain plate on the concrete floor left it broken beyond repair. / The vintage clock mechanism was rusted beyond repair.
Similar Expressions: Unfixable / Ruined permanently
44. Out of reach
Definition: Something desirable that is located too far away or has zero chance of being obtained.
Used in a Sentence: Winning the grand prize bicycle felt out of reach for the younger kids. / The top shelf cookies were out of reach for the toddler.
Similar Expressions: Unobtainable / Too far away
45. Build castles of sand
Definition: Making temporary plans that wash away easily with zero chance of permanence.
Used in a Sentence: Relying on a verbal promise without a contract is just building castles of sand. / His weekend plans were castles of sand that melted away in the storm.
Similar Expressions: Temporary hopes / Fragile plans
46. Spin your wheels
Definition: To work frantically while making zero progress, leaving no chance of advancement.
Used in a Sentence: Struggling with the confusing computer software made me feel like I was spinning my wheels. / Without a clear outline, writing the essay felt like spinning wheels.
Similar Expressions: Make no progress / Work uselessly
47. Chase shadows
Definition: Trying to catch something intangible or impossible, with zero chance of success.
Used in a Sentence: Trying to find the source of the mysterious hallway noise was like chasing shadows. / Tracking down the rumor origin was just chasing shadows.
Similar Expressions: Pursue ghosts / Hunt the impossible
48. Milk a stone
Definition: Trying to extract resources or results from a situation that has none to give.
Used in a Sentence: Asking the empty treasury for more club funds was like trying to milk a stone. / Expecting helpful answers from the silent witness was like milking a stone.
Similar Expressions: Get nothing / Impossible extraction
49. Water off a duck’s back
Definition: Criticisms that have zero chance of hurting your feelings or bothering you.
Used in a Sentence: Mean comments from bullies rolled off him like water off a duck’s back. / Treat negative reviews as water off a duck’s back.
Similar Expressions: Unbothered / Ignored easily
50. Not worth a plugged nickel
Definition: Something that has absolute zero monetary or practical value.
Used in a Sentence: The broken plastic toy was old and not worth a plugged nickel. / His bad advice on the stock market was not worth a plugged nickel.
Similar Expressions: Worthless / Zero value
Exercise to Practice
- When I asked if our history test was cancelled, my teacher smiled and said fat chance.
- When my younger brother asked if he could borrow my video game console forever, I told him he could have it when pigs fly while playing a quiet game of chess.
- Bringing an open ice cream cone near our hungry golden retriever gave it a snowball’s chance in hell.
- I would not jump off that high cliff into the water not in a million years while baking a chocolate cake in the kitchen.
- My dad said he would wear a bright pink tuxedo to work when hell freezes over.
- When asked if he would lend his brand-new skateboard to the neighborhood bully, he said, “Not on your life!” while reading a history textbook.
- When my friends suggested riding the scariest roller coaster, I told them, “Catch me doing that!”
- When my sister tried to wear my favorite concert t-shirt without asking, I told her, “Over my dead body!” by swimming in a deep pool.
- Going to the midnight movie on a school night is completely out of the question.
- With our broken bicycle chain, we had not a cat in hell’s chance of winning the race while running a fast marathon race outside.
- He forgot to sign up for the art trip by Friday, so he completely missed the boat.
- If you think I took your colored pencils, you are barking up the wrong tree by driving a red race car.
- Trying to become a professional athlete without ever practicing is just chasing rainbows.
- When he tried to claim his dog ate his science project online, the teacher said, “That dog won’t hunt” while sleeping soundly in a cozy bed.
- Arguing with my little brother about cleaning his messy room is like talking to a brick wall.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe absolute impossibility, failing to succeed, and having no chance using colorful and engaging language. By practicing them regularly, you can make your everyday writing and conversations much more expressive.
Try using one or two of these expressions the next time you write a funny story about impossible situations or talk about a hopeless task with friends. You will find that using clever idioms makes sharing stories about no chance a lot more fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for no chance?
Some popular choices include saying fat chance, when pigs fly, or a snowball’s chance in hell. These expressions help people describe impossibility in a creative way.
Why do we use idioms in English?
Idioms add charm, color, and vivid imagery to our speech by using figurative meanings instead of plain literal words. They help us share everyday abstract concepts like difficulty and impossibility through memorable expressions.
How can students learn these expressions easily?
Students can learn idioms best by connecting them to funny stories, impossible wishes, or everyday challenges. Using them in simple sentences helps them stick in your memory.
Are these idioms okay to use in formal writing?
Most of these idioms work wonderfully in personal stories, creative essays, or casual presentations. However, strict academic research papers usually require more direct vocabulary.
Do all English speakers understand these idioms for impossibility?
Yes, most of these expressions are widely recognized across English-speaking regions, though slight regional variations in phrasing can sometimes occur.
