Region: US | Usage example: After so many failed attempts, the project seemed to have a snowball's chance in hell.

A snowball's chance in hell

Meaning

Virtually no chance of succeeding.

Used when describing extremely long odds.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Metaphor comparing a snowball's survival in heat to an unlikely event.

Popularized in 20th-century American speech to express impossibility.