Tell me more ×
French Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the finer points of the French language. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 10 down vote favorite
1

I want to know if there is an expression I can use that is similar to "there is no chance in hell". How would a native French speaker convey this idea?

share|improve this question
There is the opposite : Le noir n'est pas si noir, and also Le pire n'est jamais sûr :-) – Istao Mar 16 at 6:53

6 Answers

up vote 12 down vote

I'm not aware of any French idiom with the same meaning that refers to hell. The typical idioms for “things that have no chance of happening” are:

quand les poules auront des dents

and

la semaine des quatre jeudis

share|improve this answer
3  
Thanks for the suggestion. I guess these would be equivalent to the English "when pigs fly" :) – Alexander Rafferty Mar 6 at 14:06
up vote 12 down vote

I would suggest you for this kind of discussion:

Q: Will you go out with me?

A: There is no chance in hell!

the following in French:

Q: Veux-tu sortir avec moi ?

A: Même pas en rêve !

Or, in a more formal discussion:

There is no chance in hell that government approve this proposition.

Il n'y a pas la moindre chance que le gouvernement approuve cette proposition.

share|improve this answer
up vote 7 down vote

To stick with a hell-related expression, you could also use

Il neigera en Enfer avant que...

litterally meaning

It'll snow in Hell before...

share|improve this answer
J'ajouterais : « Quand l'enfer gêlera. » – Julien Guertault Mar 15 at 4:30
J'ai hésité à la mettre, car je ne saurais pas dire si c'est une traduction littérale de l'expression anglaise, ou si c'est vraiment utilisé en français... – Alexis Pigeon Mar 15 at 8:09
up vote 4 down vote

The positive expression “une chance d'enfer” is the only one that I know that involves “chance” and “hell”… but that's more like “a hellish luck”.

More seriously, to express that “there is no chance in hell” I might say

Il n'y a pas l'ombre d'une chance

share|improve this answer
Il neigera en enfer avant que… also involves the chances of something happening, and hell. Yes indeed, luck has little to do with the OP's question. – Nikana Reklawyks Mar 14 at 16:34
up vote 2 down vote

I'd say that in place of “there is no chance in hell”, in similar situations, we would often suggest someone “not to even think about it”. (Note that it doesn't necessarily convey the same “I will not allow it” meaning as in English.)

— Tu devrais lui demander.
— Parler à ce gars-là. Bah, n'y pense même pas !

(“There is no chance in hell I will talk to him!”)

Sometimes the suggestion goes to a third person:

— Il dit pouvoir remporter la médaille d'or l'an prochain.
— Ah ah ha ! Qu'il n'y pense même pas !

(“No chance in hell this could happen!”)

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

Tu peux rêver ! (In your dreams!)

share|improve this answer
1  
Ah ? Je dirais « tu rêves », ou à la rigueur « tu peux toujours rêver », mais pas « tu peux rêver ». – Gilles♦ Mar 15 at 18:50

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.