What do you think when you hear the phrase “when pigs fly”? This common saying is used to express the idea that something is highly impossible. For example, if you ask your parents when they're going to buy you something very expensive, the answer might be: “When pigs fly!”
An old mention of pigs flying appeared in Lewis Carroll's Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland. However, it is believed that Carroll may have picked up the phrase from the Scottish, who had been using the phrase for several hundred years. That may be right.
There are also those who believe the phrase may have gotten its start in America.
It's not surprising that many common sayings that developed back then had an animal or farm background. For example, farmers used to take pigs to slaughterhouse (屠宰场) along rivers on small boats. If it was foggy, people on the bank could only see the pigs' heads above the fog. This might have caused the saying to appear.
Other countries also use animals to show impossibility. Other countries, such as France and Spain, use phrases like “when frogs grow hair” or “when hens grow teeth”.
A. Long ago, most Americans worked in farming.
B. The phrase was used back then as a clever reply.
C. Maybe funny pictures of pigs with wings fill your mind.
D. People like to use colorful phrases to get a message across.
E. For example, many countries use the phrase “when cows fly”.
F. This made them look like they were flying through the clouds.
G. No one is certain exactly who developed the phrase “when pigs fly”.
