When Pigs Fly – Idiom of the day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Haniya Yashfeen

5 min read

Updated On Sep 18, 2025

Improve your IELTS Vocabulary with the idiom 'When Pigs Fly' and learn how to use it figuratively in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. Use it to sound more fluent, expressive, and confident to describe an event which will never happen.

When Pigs Fly – Idiom of the day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘When Pigs Fly’?
When to Use ‘When Pigs Fly’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?
Exercise on ‘When Pigs Fly’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

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As you learn new terms, getting familiar with the idiom ‘When Pigs Fly’ could add depth to your answers. Using such phrases can set your language apart and help you achieve a higher band score of 8+ in the parameters of Fluency, Coherence, and Lexical Resource. As you use this idiomatic language to refer to something which is unlikely to happen, you get an opportunity to showcase your advanced vocabulary in IELTS Speaking and Writing sections.

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What is the Meaning of the Idiom ‘When Pigs Fly’?

Understanding an idiom's figurative meaning and the context in which it can be used effectively is the key to using such idioms well. However, using it with no proper context will lower your IELTS Band Score for coherence and lexical resources. Therefore, let’s look at the table below to understand the meaning of the idiom ‘When Pigs Fly’ along with its synonyms and correct context for both Speaking and Writing sections.

Topic	Description
When Pigs Fly	Idiom
Definition	a way of saying that something will never happen
Origin	The phrases “pigs may fly” or “pigs might fly” have been used in a variety of forms since the 1600s. It was the time when the phrase was first mentioned in the form of “pigs fly with their tails forward.” This was used as a sarcastic remark for something or somebody who was overly optimistic. The current form of this idiom is more commonly used throughout America. However, when it comes to the origin, there are certain arguments. The most general and basic consensus is that this term would have either originated in Scotland or German, where it has been used in several examples throughout history.
Synonyms	Not in a million years Not on your life Not in any circumstances Not by a long chalk Not in any degree When pigs get wings Cold day in July Not likely to happen Cold hell If the sky falls Getting blood from the stone
Examples	For IELTS Speaking I will score better in mathematics and science when pigs fly. She plans to clean and organize her cupboard every week, but maybe when pigs fly. For IELTS Writing Without hard work and required efforts, an individual can become a millionaire the day when pigs fly. With such a performance, the team will win the competition when pigs fly.

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When to Use ‘When Pigs Fly’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?

As you learn a new idiom, it is also crucial for you to know how to use it seamlessly in IELTS Speaking and Writing answers. This will make your answers sound more engaging, lively, and convincing. Therefore, knowing just the definition is the first step while understanding the correct time to fit it in would be the second step. Below are the three situations where you can use the idiom ‘When Pigs Fly’ effectively.

Expressing Impossible Outcomes or Unlikelihood

Use this idiom when you want to emphasize that something is extremely unlikely or impossible to happen.

IELTS Speaking

Do you think people will stop using smartphones in the next five years?

People will stop using smartphones when pigs fly since these are too integral to our daily lives.

IELTS Writing

Some argue that climate change can be completely reversed within a decade, but that will happen when pigs fly, given the current rate of global emissions.

Adding Humor or Emphasis

Use this idiom to add a little humor or to exaggerate for effect, thus making your talk sound natural and engaging.

IELTS Speaking

Will my teacher give us a holiday tomorrow?

That will happen when pigs fly!

IELTS Writing

Expecting all students to score full marks without proper preparation is something that will happen when pigs fly.

Hypothetical or Unrealistic Situations

Use with to discuss hypothetical ideas or any situation which is not realistic.

IELTS Speaking

Describe a time you expected something unrealistic to happen.

I thought I could finish the entire syllabus in one night, but that could only happen when pigs fly.

IELTS Writing

Many individuals claim that all traffic congestion can be eliminated within a year can happen when pigs fly.

Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.

Exercise on ‘When Pigs Fly’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

With the knowledge that you have acquired for the usage of the idiom, you can try attempting to answer the following task to check your progress. Completing the exercise will provide clarity in the usage of the phrase. Practicing this will give you confidence in your application of ‘When Pigs Fly’ in IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks.

EXERCISE : Choose the correct idiom and fill in the blanks given in the following sentences.

A blessing in disguise	Fell from grace	Be two of a kind
Be flying high	When pigs fly	Cost an arm and a leg

1 Even though they have conflicting interests, they __________ and get along.

2 Losing my wallet was __________ because I found an old forgotten bank note in my jacket.

3 Expecting my little brother to clean his entire room without being asked will only happen __________.

4 The designer handbag must have __________, but she didn't care while buying it.

5 After the recent controversy, the famous actor suddenly __________.

6 After winning the reputed award, she felt she was __________.

Answer to the Exercise on ‘When Pigs Fly’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Now, it's time to check your answers and carefully compare them with the correct ones and think through your reasoning for each choice. This will help you spot errors, improve your ways of thinking, and further prepare for the higher IELTS score.

Be two of a kind
A blessing in disguise
When pigs fly
Cost an arm and a leg
Fell from grace
Be flying high

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Using the idioms correctly would help your language sound spontaneous, lively, and fluent for the Speaking and IELTS Writing Sections. Practice the idiom with its contextual use so that you can fit it in various sentences confidently and incorporate it in your answers. Therefore, showcase your lexical flexibility by learning new idioms and hone your language skills.

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