original surreal art the phrase when pigs fly describes impossibility

navigate by keyword : 1600s absurd absurdity adynaton adynatona alternatively ambition animal animals antropomorphic apparently art centuriesold claim crazy derived describes dream dreaming effect failure famous figure finally fly flying forms funny goat goats happen humorous hyperbolic idiom impossibility individual magic magical maximum may miracle music never onlookers original overambition phrase pigs playing proverb references remark reputation sarcastic sarcastically scoff scottish speech succeeds surreal surrealism think thinking though thought thoughts undefined used weird wings

Original surreal art of the phrase when pigs fly describes an impossibility Royalty Free Stock Photo

Original surreal art of the phrase when pigs fly describes an impossibility

The phrase when pigs fly or pigs might fly is an adynaton a figure of speech so hyperbolic that it describes an impossibility. The phrase has been used in various forms since the 1600s as a sarcastic remark. The idiom is apparently derived from a centuries-old Scottish proverb, though some other references to pigs flying or pigs with wings are more famous.