"That won't happen"
Imagine your friend says 'I'm going to president one day'.
In English, we have a number of phrases to say that we think the other person is being totally unrealistic.
Ten ways to say "That won't happen"
casual · neutral · formal
- As if!casual"He'll pay for dinner." "As if!"
- In your dreams!casual"I'll be a millionaire by thirty." "In your dreams!"
- You wish!casual"She likes me, I think." "You wish!"
- No chance!casual"Will the bus come on time?" "No chance!"
- Not a chance!casual"Can we win against Australia?" "Not a chance!"
- Not likely!neutral"Will he apologise?" "Not likely!"
- Dream on!casual"One day I'll marry a film star." "Dream on!"
- Never in a million years!casualstrongMy brother tidy his room? Never in a million years!
- You'll be lucky!casual"I'll get a seat on the 5.30 train." "You'll be lucky!"
- Yes, and pigs might fly!casual"The government will lower prices." "Yes, and pigs might fly!"
How to use them
- , and 3 not only show disbelief but are also quite dismissive of the person who made the prediction.
- are indicating that you think the prediction is totally impossible.
- is a little more tentative. You concede that there may be a small chance.
- suggests that you think the other person is just day-dreaming.
- are a little sarcastic. In phrase ten you are saying that the prediction is no more likely than pigs suddenly being able to fly.
Quick check
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"Pigs might fly" means:
"You'll be lucky!" means:
All these phrases are:
See also: Talking about improbability
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