No chance in hell
Meaning
This phrase is an emphatic way of stating that something is utterly impossible or extremely unlikely to happen.
Origin
Imagine a realm where hope itself is a foreign concept, a place of utter despair and absolute impossibility. That's the vivid picture this phrase paints, leveraging the age-old, terrifying imagery of "hell." For centuries, "hell" has been synonymous with the ultimate negative, a place where no good thing can ever happen. So, to declare "no chance in hell" isn't just saying something is unlikely; it's asserting that an event would be so contrary to nature, so utterly defying all cosmic order, it could only occur in a place where all logic and hope have vanished. This stark, hyperbolic declaration cuts through polite conversation, offering a blunt and absolute dismissal of any possibility, echoing the finality of a damned soul's fate. It solidified its place in modern English as a punchy, absolute negation, making it clear that a desired outcome simply isn't going to happen—not now, not ever.
Examples
- You expect me to finish this entire project by myself in one day? There's no chance in hell.
- The manager told him he had no chance in hell of getting a promotion after his last performance review.