The idiom "a snowball's chance in hell" expresses the idea that something has absolutely no chance of succeeding or happening. It's a colorful way to emphasize the impossibility of a particular outcome.
The origin of the phrase is debated, but the imagery is clear: a snowball, a fragile object that melts easily, would have no hope of survival in the extreme heat of hell. This vivid contrast reinforces the idea of utter hopelessness.
The register is informal and often used for emphasis. While not vulgar, it's best avoided in very formal settings or when speaking to someone who might be easily offended.
The phrase "a snowball's chance in hell" is quite flexible. It can be used in a variety of sentence structures. You can modify it with adverbs like "absolutely," and it can be negated with "not." It's also commonly used in questions.
However, overly literal or creative modifications can sound unnatural. For instance, saying "a very small snowball's chance in hell" is redundant, as the idiom already implies zero chance.
These examples are sourced from a snowball's chance in hell on Ludwig.guru.
"For a start, if you haven't already booked, there's not a snowball's chance in hell of finding anything half-decent for tonight." — The Guardian - Travel
""There's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'll vote for that," caucus member Mo Brooks (R-Ala)." — Huffington Post
"Regrettably, there is probably not a snowball's chance in hell that it will be ambitious enough." — The Economist
"Q: Is there a snowball's chance in hell of a Conservative government introducing a wealth tax?" — The Guardian
"I honestly didn't think he had a snowball's chance in hell of winning this competition - at this point, barring disaster, he'll consider bronze an abject failure." — The Guardian - Sport
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/a+snowball's+chance+in+hell
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| no chance | Neutral; suitable for most situations. |
| not a hope | Informal; expresses a lack of optimism. |
| slim to none | Informal; emphasizes the unlikelihood of something. |
| no way | Very informal; expresses strong disbelief or refusal. |
| when hell freezes over | Humorous and emphatic; implies something will never happen. |
| a long shot | Suggests a very low probability of success, but not necessarily impossible. |
| in your dreams | Dismissive and informal; implies something is unrealistic. |
| Expression | Idiomatic Meaning | Register | Avoid In |
|---|---|---|---|
| a snowball's chance in hell | Absolutely no chance of success | Informal | Formal writing, sensitive conversations |
It's almost exclusively used figuratively. While you could theoretically describe a literal scenario involving a snowball and hell, the phrase's established idiomatic meaning would likely overshadow any literal interpretation.
Both phrases describe something with a low probability of success, but "a snowball's chance in hell" is far more emphatic. "A long shot" suggests a small possibility, while "a snowball's chance in hell" implies impossibility.
Yes, that's a common misunderstanding. The idiom actually means there is no chance at all. The image of a snowball melting instantly in hell highlights the utter impossibility of success.
Tools