Whiteisms
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Etymology Journal ยท N

Not a snowball's chance

Meaning

Used to describe something with absolutely no possibility of happening. It implies the outcome is as doomed as a snowball in a furnace.

Cynical, firm

Used in a sentence

  • There is not a snowball's chance he will make it to the party on time tonight.
  • I have not a snowball's chance of finishing this report by five o'clock.
  • The team has not a snowball's chance of winning the championship this year.

The backstory

The full phrase is not a snowball's chance in hell, which dates back to the mid-19th century. The imagery is quite vivid, though shortened versions remain common.

Heard in

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