till hell freezes over

Idioms and Phrases

Forever, as in They said they'd go on searching till hell freezes over, but I'm sure they'll give up soon . This hyperbolic expression dates from the early 1900s. So does its antonym, not till hell freezes over , meaning “never,” as in I'm not giving in, not until hell freezes over .

Example Sentences

“We’ll fight till hell freezes over, and then we’ll fight on ice,” said Keithlyn Warner, 55, vice president of one of the District’s three chapters and a regular parade participant.

From Washington Post

“We will fight till hell freezes over,” said Hazel Dukes of the N.A.A.C.P.

From New York Times

“I’ll fight on this issue till hell freezes over, and then I’ll fight on the ice, to end refugee resettlement at CSI,” Martin told a reporter.

From Washington Times

"Look, lady," he said, more to the rest of us than to her, "I don't want to do this, I have to do it. They sent me up here to do it. If it was left to me, you could stay here till hell freezes over . . ." "These white folks, Lord. These white folks," she moaned, her eyes turned toward the sky, as an old man pushed past me and went to her.

From Literature

"Till hell freezes over!" he told her, grimly.

From Project Gutenberg