if ifs and ans were pots and pans

proverb A phrase that advises against wishing for impossible or absurd things to happen. The full phrase is "If ifs and ans were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers(' hands)." "An" here is an archaic word meaning roughly the same thing as "if." A: "If only my parents would give me a car, life would be so much easier." B: "Yeah, well, if ifs and ans were pots and pans, right?" Who knows, maybe the boss will listen to reason for once. Yeah, right, and if ifs and ans were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands! A: "I just wish I could work less and make more money." B: "Well, sure, and if ifs and ans were pots and pans!"