A cold day in hell

Meaning

Something extremely unlikely to happen.

Usage

Used to express disbelief.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Paradoxical image because hell is imagined as hot.

Used in American speech since the early 20th century.