No, pigs cannot fly.
The phrase "when pigs fly" is a common idiom used to express something that is highly improbable or will never happen. The phrase is considered a near-proverbial statement. The saying is akin to phrases like “when hell freezes over,” both of which are used to denote something impossible.
Why Can't Pigs Fly?
- Physical Limitations: Pigs lack the necessary physical attributes for flight. They do not have wings, lightweight bones, or the aerodynamic body shape needed to overcome gravity.
- Evolutionary Path: Pigs evolved to be terrestrial mammals. Their biology is specifically designed for life on the ground, not for aerial navigation.
- Common Knowledge: The inability of pigs to fly is common knowledge and forms the basis of the idiom “when pigs fly.”
The Idiom "When Pigs Fly"
As the reference provided indicates, "when pigs fly" is not something that people actually believe is possible. Instead, it's a figure of speech, a way of emphatically stating that something will absolutely not occur. If someone says something will happen “when pigs fly”, they are saying that it will not happen because it is known that pigs can't fly.
| Concept | Description |
|---|---|
| "When pigs fly" | A near-proverbial statement used to express an extremely low probability or impossibility. |
| Meaning | Something is as likely to occur as a pig is to develop the ability to fly naturally, which is never. |
Pigs can sometimes seem to be doing things like “flying,” during a leap or a jump, but this is not the same as the true powered flight of birds or insects.
