First of all, let us make it clear that “there is no flying pigs in this universe”. The term “flying pigs” is often used as a humorous or whimsical phrase that is often used to describe something that is so unlikely or impossible that it is almost laughable. The full expression is usually “when pigs fly”. Which means that something will never happen or is extremely unlikely to happen. For example, if someone says, “he will stop telling lie when pigs fly”. That means, he is joking that it will never happen. So, flying pigs are just a fun, and a fictional concept that represents an absurd or impossible idea.
What Does Flying Pigs Mean?
The phrase flying pigs comes from an ancient saying, “when pigs fly”. People often use this phrase to talk about some things that are very unlikely or impossible. For example, if a bachelor says, “he will clean his room when pigs fly”, it means that that person will probably never clean his room.
Flying pigs is actually a funny way of saying that something is so impossible that it will never happen. Can you imagine a pig, which is an animal that can’t fly, suddenly soaring through the sky with wings? It is silly and not possible right? And that is exactly what flying pigs represent. Hope you have a clear idea now.
But Why Pigs?
Because pigs are often chosen in such expression as they are heavy, and land animals that do not have wings and can’t fly at all. Exact idea behind a flying pig is so strange and funny that it works perfectly as a symbol of impossibility. People might show pigs with wings and flying high in the sky in some jokes, stories or in cartoons. It is a funny thing that makes people laugh and think about how crazy it would be if pigs could actually fly in the sky.
So, Where Did the Saying Come From?
Actually, exact origin of the phrase “flying pigs” or “when pigs fly” is still unknown. But the phrase has been used in English-speaking countries for hundreds of years. Some people believe that the phrase started in Europe in the 1600s. And it become a popular way over time to show that something is very unlikely to happen.