Question of the Day #1325

If pigs could fly – giant boar is hoax, say officials

From the headline of this article at The Guardian.

  上記の文で、if pigs could flyの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "if pigs could fly" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎等の日本語のページに意味が掲載されていないので、下記The Free Dictionaryよると、

不可能なことが実際に起こり得るとしたら。（仮定上の状況や予想される結果に対する懐疑や皮肉を表す目的で用いられる。）

このイディオムは、Question of the Day #891の"When pigs can fly"から派生したイディオムだと思います。

 

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

If something impossible could actually happen. (Used to show skepticism or cynicism over some hypothetical situation or outcome.)

 

Examples

1. She'll finish the project on time? Yeah, if pigs could fly.
2. He'll apologize? Sure, if pigs could fly.
3. I'm sure that David would be happy to pay for everyone—if pigs could fly.
4. Billy as class valedictorian? Yeah, maybe if pigs could fly!
5. A: "If we could just get Democrats and Republicans to agree on a tax reform bill, we could bring the deficit down in no time."
   B: "Sure, and if pigs could fly, we'd have a whole new mode of transportation at our fingertips! Get real."

   

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