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Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with impossible things and tasks that cannot be done.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for impossible that mean out of reach, completely unrealistic, and unattainable. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Impossible
1. When pigs fly
Meaning: A humorous way of saying something will never, ever happen.
For Example: He said he would clean his entire bedroom when pigs fly. / Winning a race against a cheetah will happen when pigs fly.
Other Ways to Say: Never / Not a chance
2. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: An event that happens so rarely it is almost impossible.
For Example: Seeing snow fall in the middle of summer happens once in a blue moon. / He eats vegetables he dislikes once in a blue moon.
Other Ways to Say: Rarely / Almost never
3. Reach for the moon
Meaning: Trying to achieve something that is extremely difficult or nearly impossible.
For Example: The teacher told us to reach for the moon with our science project. / Dreaming of building a spaceship is trying to reach for the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Try hard
4. Move mountains
Meaning: To try and accomplish an impossible task through sheer effort.
For Example: With enough teamwork and hard work, you can almost move mountains. / He was determined to move mountains to finish his big report.
Other Ways to Say: Achieve wonders / Do the impossible
5. Catch the wind
Meaning: Trying to capture something that cannot be held or controlled.
For Example: Trying to change his mind was as difficult as trying to catch the wind. / Chasing after every loose rumor is like trying to catch the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible task / Futile effort
6. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps
Meaning: A difficult task of succeeding entirely by your own impossible effort.
For Example: He had to pull himself up by his bootstraps to pass the hard class. / Building the business from scratch meant pulling himself up by his bootstraps.
Other Ways to Say: Succeed alone / Work hard
7. Find a needle in a haystack
Meaning: Trying to find a tiny object in a huge space where it is nearly impossible.
For Example: Looking for my lost contact lens on the grass felt like finding a needle in a haystack. / Searching for that specific paper in the messy desk is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible search / Hard task
8. Shoot for the stars
Meaning: Setting a goal that feels almost impossible to reach.
For Example: The graduation speaker told every student to shoot for the stars. / Even if the career goal is huge, you should shoot for the stars.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
9. Bark up the wrong tree
Meaning: Pursuing an impossible or mistaken goal that won’t give results.
For Example: If you think I took the pencil, you are barking up the wrong tree. / Searching in the kitchen for your outdoor keys means you are barking up the wrong tree.
Other Ways to Say: Be mistaken / Look in wrong place
10. Beat a dead horse
Meaning: Trying to continue an impossible or useless task that is already finished.
For Example: Arguing about the game rules from yesterday is like trying to beat a dead horse. / Stop trying to fix that broken plastic toy because it is like beating a dead horse.
Other Ways to Say: Waste effort / Futile attempt
11. Cry for the moon
Meaning: Wishing for something that is completely out of reach and impossible.
For Example: Asking for a pet dragon is like crying for the moon. / Wishing you could fly without wings is just crying for the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Wish for impossible / Want too much
12. Milk a bull
Meaning: Trying to perform an action that makes no sense and is impossible.
For Example: Expecting him to change his stubborn mind is like trying to milk a bull. / That silly plan to fix the car is like trying to milk a bull.
Other Ways to Say: Nonsense task / Impossible effort
13. Square a circle
Meaning: Trying to solve a problem that has been proven impossible to fix.
For Example: Trying to make both of them happy with opposite choices is like trying to square a circle. / Solving that broken math formula felt like trying to square a circle.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible problem / Unsolvable puzzle
14. Turn water into wine
Meaning: Expecting a miraculous and impossible transformation.
For Example: Expecting me to finish this huge book in five minutes is like trying to turn water into wine. / You cannot just turn water into wine without practice.
Other Ways to Say: Magic trick / Impossible expectation
15. Catch a falling star
Meaning: Attempting something magical, beautiful, but completely impossible.
For Example: Trying to keep everyone quiet in the cafeteria is like trying to catch a falling star. / Winning that huge sweepstakes feels like trying to catch a falling star.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible dream / Unattainable goal
16. Build castles in the air Meaning: Dreaming up impossible plans that will never actually happen.
Meaning: Dreaming up impossible plans that will never actually happen.
For Example: Instead of building castles in the air, start doing your homework. / He loved building castles in the air about winning the lottery.
Other Ways to Say: Daydream / Unrealistic plans
17. Reach for the stars Meaning: Trying to attain a goal that is extremely high and nearly impossible.
Meaning: Trying to attain a goal that is extremely high and nearly impossible.
For Example: The coach encouraged us to reach for the stars in the tournament. / Setting big dreams means you reach for the stars.
Other Ways to Say: Aim high / Dream big
18. Out of reach Meaning: Situated too far away or impossible to attain.
Meaning: Situated too far away or impossible to attain.
For Example: The top shelf cookies were completely out of reach for the toddler. / Winning first place felt out of reach until he practiced more.
Other Ways to Say: Unattainable / Inaccessible
19. Beyond belief Meaning: So incredible or strange that it seems impossible to be true.
Meaning: So incredible or strange that it seems impossible to be true.
For Example: The magician’s card trick was completely beyond belief. / His excuse for missing the bus was beyond belief.
Other Ways to Say: Incredible / Unbelievable
20. Hard nut to crack Meaning: A problem or puzzle that is extremely difficult to solve.
Meaning: A problem or puzzle that is extremely difficult to solve.
For Example: That advanced math word problem was a real hard nut to crack. / Fixing the old computer software was a hard nut to crack.
Other Ways to Say: Tough problem / Difficult task
21. Mission impossible Meaning: A task that seems so hard it cannot possibly be completed.
Meaning: A task that seems so hard it cannot possibly be completed.
For Example: Cleaning the entire garage in ten minutes felt like mission impossible. / Finding all the hidden tickets was a mission impossible game.
Other Ways to Say: Unachievable task / Hard job
22. Against all odds Meaning: Succeeding even when the situation makes success seem impossible.
Meaning: Succeeding even when the situation makes success seem impossible.
For Example: Our team won the championship game against all odds. / He passed the difficult test against all odds.
Other Ways to Say: Despite difficulty / Unlikely success
23. Piece of cake reverse Meaning: An ironic way of describing a task that is actually impossible.
Meaning: An ironic way of describing a task that is actually impossible.
For Example: He called fixing the broken television a piece of cake, but it was impossible. / Memorizing the whole dictionary is a piece of cake reverse.
Other Ways to Say: Very hard / Impossible task
24. Task of Hercules Meaning: A legendary labor that requires impossible strength.
Meaning: A legendary labor that requires impossible strength.
For Example: Cleaning up the muddy stadium felt like a task of Hercules. / Carrying all the heavy boxes alone was a task of Hercules.
Other Ways to Say: Massive job / Impossible labor
25. Climbing Everest Meaning: A metaphor for trying to accomplish a monumental and impossible goal.
Meaning: A metaphor for trying to accomplish a monumental and impossible goal.
For Example: Studying for all four final exams felt like climbing Everest. / Writing a whole novel in a week is like climbing Everest.
Other Ways to Say: Huge challenge / Monumental task
26. Parting the Red Sea Meaning: Performing an unbelievable miracle to solve an impossible problem.
Meaning: Performing an unbelievable miracle to solve an impossible problem.
For Example: Getting everyone to agree on a game choice felt like parting the Red Sea. / Organizing the messy schedule was like parting the Red Sea.
Other Ways to Say: Miraculous fix / Huge miracle
27. Slaying a dragon Meaning: Overcoming a terrifying and seemingly impossible obstacle.
Meaning: Overcoming a terrifying and seemingly impossible obstacle.
For Example: Passing the advanced physics test felt like slaying a dragon. / Defeating the champion team felt like slaying a dragon.
Other Ways to Say: Conquer giant task / Beat big obstacle
28. Pulling a rabbit out of a hat Meaning: Producing a miraculous solution to an impossible situation.
Meaning: Producing a miraculous solution to an impossible situation.
For Example: We needed extra funds, and the director managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat. / He solved the riddle by pulling a rabbit out of a hat.
Other Ways to Say: Work a miracle / Find surprise solution
29. Catching smoke with your bare hands Meaning: Trying to hold onto something that cannot be grasped.
Meaning: Trying to hold onto something that cannot be grasped.
For Example: Trying to stop rumors from spreading is like catching smoke with your bare hands. / Trying to grab the flowing water was like catching smoke with your bare hands.
Other Ways to Say: Futile effort / Impossible task
30. Walking on water Meaning: Pretending to do something miraculous and impossible.
Meaning: Pretending to do something miraculous and impossible.
For Example: He thinks he can finish this huge project alone without help, like walking on water. / Nobody expects you to be walking on water during your first day.
Other Ways to Say: Perform miracles / Do the impossible
31. Catching water in a sieve Meaning: Wasting time on an impossible task that yields no results.
Meaning: Wasting time on an impossible task that yields no results.
For Example: Trying to explain rules to him when he won’t listen is like catching water in a sieve. / Repairing that old leaking bucket is like catching water in a sieve.
Other Ways to Say: Wasteful effort / Impossible task
32. Bricking up a chimney with smoke Meaning: Doing something that logically makes no sense and cannot work.
Meaning: Doing something that logically makes no sense and cannot work.
For Example: Trying to hide the broken vase was like bricking up a chimney with smoke. / That messy plan will fail like bricking up a chimney with smoke.
Other Ways to Say: Nonsense plan / Bound to fail
33. Teaching a fish to climb a tree Meaning: Forcing someone to do something completely outside their ability.
Meaning: Forforcing someone to do something completely outside their ability.
For Example: Making him sing a solo when he is tone-deaf is like teaching a fish to climb a tree. / Expecting cats to fetch sticks is like teaching a fish to climb a tree.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible expectation / Wrong skill
34. Whistling in the wind Meaning: Making efforts that have no effect on an impossible situation.
Meaning: Making efforts that have no effect on an impossible situation.
For Example: Complaining about the rain is just whistling in the wind. / Telling the noisy crowd to quiet down felt like whistling in the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Useless effort / Ignored plea
35. Carrying water in a bottomless bucket Meaning: Working endlessly on a task that can never be completed.
Meaning: Working endlessly on a task that can never be completed.
For Example: Trying to clean this messy room while the toddler makes a mess is like carrying water in a bottomless bucket. / Endless chores feel like carrying water in a bottomless bucket.
Other Ways to Say: Endless task / Impossible labor
36. Chasing rainbows Meaning: Pursuing illusory, unrealistic, and impossible goals.
Meaning: Pursuing illusory, unrealistic, and impossible goals.
For Example: Instead of chasing rainbows of becoming a pop star overnight, practice your instrument. / He spent years chasing rainbows of finding hidden treasure.
Other Ways to Say: Pursue illusions / Chase dreams
37. Drawing blood from a stone Meaning: Trying to get something from someone who has nothing to give.
Meaning: Trying to get something from someone who has nothing to give.
For Example: Getting him to lend money is like drawing blood from a stone. / Asking the tired puppy to play fetch was like drawing blood from a stone.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible demand / Get nothing
38. Looking for a needle in a haystack Meaning: Searching for a tiny, hidden item in an enormous space.
Meaning: Searching for a tiny, hidden item in an enormous space.
For Example: Finding my lost earring in the tall sandbox was like looking for a needle in a haystack. / Searching for one old paper in the library is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible search / Hard task
39. Making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear Meaning: Trying to turn something low quality into something luxurious.
Meaning: Trying to turn something low quality into something luxurious.
For Example: Trying to fix this rusted old bicycle into a racing bike is like making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. / Transforming the broken shed was like making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible upgrade / Fix junk
40. Putting the cart before the horse Meaning: Doing things in an impossible, backwards order.
Meaning: Doing things in an impossible, backwards order.
For Example: Buying art supplies before learning how to draw is putting the cart before the horse. / Planning the party before inviting guests is putting the cart before the horse.
Other Ways to Say: Do things backwards / Wrong order
41. Trying to square the circle Meaning: Attempting an unresolvable and mathematically impossible problem.
Meaning: Attempting an unresolvable and mathematically impossible problem.
For Example: Trying to make everyone agree on a movie is like trying to square the circle. / Solving that puzzle felt like trying to square the circle.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible problem / Unsolvable task
42. Waiting for Godot Meaning: Waiting endlessly for an event or person that will never arrive.
Meaning: Waiting endlessly for an event or person that will never arrive.
For Example: Standing by the broken bus stop felt like waiting for Godot. / Expecting him to apologize first is like waiting for Godot.
Other Ways to Say: Endless wait / Futile expectation
43. Trying to put toothpaste back in the tube Meaning: Trying to undo something that is completely permanent and done.
Meaning: Trying to undo something that is completely permanent and done.
For Example: Apologizing after sharing a secret is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube. / Once words are spoken, trying to take them back is like trying to put toothpaste back in the tube.
Other Ways to Say: Undo the impossible / Irreversible act
44. Running on empty Meaning: Continuing to function when energy resources are completely gone.
Meaning: Continuing to function when energy resources are completely gone.
For Example: Staying up all night studying means you are running on empty by morning. / The car ran out of gas and was running on empty.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted / Depleted
45. Hitting a brick wall Meaning: Recoming blocked by an absolute barrier to progress.
Meaning: Recoming blocked by an absolute barrier to progress.
For Example: While writing my story, I hit a brick wall with the plot. / Solving the riddle made him hit a brick wall.
Other Ways to Say: Get stuck / Face barrier
46. Doing the impossible Meaning: Achieving a feat that everyone believed could not be done.
Meaning: Achieving a feat that everyone believed could not be done.
For Example: Winning the game with zero seconds left felt like doing the impossible. / Building the bridge across the canyon was like doing the impossible.
Other Ways to Say: Achieve great feat / Succeed wildly
47. Beyond human capability Meaning: Requiring skills or strength that no person possesses.
Meaning: Requiring skills or strength that no person possesses.
For Example: Lifting that heavy boulder alone is beyond human capability. / Memorizing a million numbers is beyond human capability.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible / Superhuman
48. Out of the question Meaning: Something so impossible or unacceptable it won’t be considered.
Meaning: Something so impossible or unacceptable it won’t be considered.
For Example: Going to the theme park on a school night is out of the question. / Buying a pony for everyone is totally out of the question.
Other Ways to Say: Unacceptable / Impossible
49. Not a dog’s chance Meaning: Having zero probability of success or survival.
Meaning: Having zero probability of success or survival.
For Example: Without studying, he had not a dog’s chance of passing the math test. / Our broken team had not a dog’s chance against the champions.
Other Ways to Say: Zero chance / Impossible
50. Fat chance Meaning: A sarcastic way of saying something is entirely impossible.
Meaning: A sarcastic way of saying something is entirely impossible.
For Example: Can I borrow your brand new bicycle? Fat chance! / Will he finish his chores without being asked? Fat chance!
Other Ways to Say: Not likely / Impossible
51. Not in a million years Meaning: Something that will never happen at any point in time.
Meaning: Something that will never happen at any point in time.
For Example: Would I jump off a high cliff into water? Not in a million years! / He said he would eat raw broccoli not in a million years.
Other Ways to Say: Never / Absolutely not
52. Snowball’s chance in hell Meaning: Having absolute zero chance of surviving or succeeding.
Meaning: Having absolute zero chance of surviving or succeeding.
For Example: Leaving the ice cream on the sunny sidewalk gave it a snowball’s chance in hell of surviving. / Without practicing, our team had a snowball’s chance in hell of winning.
Other Ways to Say: Zero probability / No chance
53. Pigs might fly Meaning: A British expression meaning something is totally impossible.
Meaning: A British expression meaning something is totally impossible.
For Example: Will he apologize for making a mess? Pigs might fly! / Can we finish this project in ten seconds? Pigs might fly!
Other Ways to Say: Never / Impossible
54. When hell freezes over Meaning: A dramatic way of saying something will never happen.
Meaning: A dramatic way of saying something will never happen.
For Example: He said he would clean the attic when hell freezes over. / Will she give up eating chocolate? Only when hell freezes over!
Other Ways to Say: Never / Impossible event
55. Hell would freeze over first Meaning: Emphasizing that an event will never take place.
Meaning: Emphasizing that an event will never take place.
For Example: Would I let my little brother borrow my video game? Hell would freeze over first! / He claimed he would wear a winter coat in July, but hell would freeze over first.
Other Ways to Say: Never happen / Absolute refusal
56. Cup of tea impossibility Meaning: A playful twist on tasks that are not your style or impossible.
Meaning: A playful twist on tasks that are not your style or impossible.
For Example: Solving advanced calculus is not my cup of tea. / Trying to lift a car is certainly not my cup of tea.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible / Not for me
57. Beyond reach Meaning: Too far away to grab or achieve.
Meaning: Too far away to grab or achieve.
For Example: The floating balloon drifted high into the sky, staying beyond reach. / Success seemed beyond reach until he started studying daily.
Other Ways to Say: Unattainable / Far away
58. Beyond bounds Meaning: Exceeding all realistic limits of what is possible.
Meaning: Exceeding all realistic limits of what is possible.
For Example: Expecting us to read fifty books in one day is beyond bounds. / His wild claims about winning the contest were beyond bounds.
Other Ways to Say: Unrealistic / Excessive
59. Unattainable dream Meaning: A goal that cannot be achieved through normal means.
Meaning: A goal that cannot be achieved through normal means.
For Example: Becoming a professional astronaut without studying science is an unattainable dream. / Touching the clouds is an unattainable dream.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible goal / Unrealistic wish
60. Pure fantasy Meaning: Something that exists only in imagination and is impossible.
Meaning: Something that exists only in imagination and is impossible.
For Example: The idea that our dog could talk was pure fantasy. / Winning the game without practicing was pure fantasy.
Other Ways to Say: Make-believe / Impossible idea
Exercise to Practice
- He said he would clean his entire bedroom when pigs ________.
- Seeing snow fall in the middle of summer happens once in a blue ________.
- The teacher told us to reach for the ________ with our science project.
- Looking for my lost contact lens on the grass felt like finding a needle in a ________.
- If you think I took the pencil, you are barking up the wrong ________.
- Asking for a pet dragon is like crying for the ________.
- Finding all the hidden tickets was a mission ________ game.
- Our team won the championship game against all ________.
- Instead of building ________ in the air, start doing your homework.
- The top shelf cookies were completely out of ________ for the toddler.
- Getting him to lend money is like drawing blood from a ________.
- Going to the theme park on a school night is out of the ________.
- Without studying, he had not a dog’s ________ of passing the math test.
- Can I borrow your brand new bicycle? Fat ________!
- Would I jump off a high cliff into water? Not in a million ________!
Answer Key
- fly
- moon
- moon
- haystack
- tree
- moon
- impossible
- odds
- castles
- reach
- stone
- question
- chance
- chance
- years
Conclusion
Learning idioms about impossible situations helps you understand stories, exaggerated humor, and everyday conversations much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe funny or unrealistic ideas in your own writing.
Try using a few of these expressions the next time you talk about something that will never happen. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.
