not a hope in hell
not a hope in hell
Absolutely no possibility of succeeding, coming to pass, or achieving something. There's not a hope in hell that you'll find me living in this town after I graduate.
See also: hell, hope, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
not a hope in hell
Also, not a prayer. No chance at all, as in There's not a hope in hell that we have a winning bid, or If you don't watch the conductor you won't have a prayer of coming in on time. The first term was first recorded in 1923, the second in 1941. Both allude to the chance for heavenly salvation. Also see snowball's chance in hell.
See also: hell, hope, not
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
not a hope (or chance) in hell
no hope (or chance) at all. informalAn elaboration of this phrase is not a snowball's chance in hell .
See also: hell, hope, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
not a hope in hell
No chance at all. This term, with such variations as not a snowball’s chance in hell, has been used since the early twentieth century. The OED cites O. Onions, Peace in Our Time (1923), as its first appearance in print: “‘I rather fancied Lovelightly.’—‘Lovelightly? Not a hope in Hell!’”
See also: hell, hope, not
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- not have a hope in hell
- not have a hope in hell (of doing something)
- not have a cat in hell's chance
- stand a chance
- not have a chance in hell (of doing something)
- whistle in the wind
- keep the lid on (something)
- keep the lid on something
- some people (just) don't know when to give up
- some people (just) don't know when to stop