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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
not a hope (or chance) in hell
no hope (or chance) at all. informal An elaboration of this phrase is not a snowball's chance in hell .
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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!’”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer