till the fat lady sings
Until a given situation, event, effort, etc., is completely finished or concluded. Usually used in the phrases "it's not over till the fat lady sings" or "it ain't over till the fat lady sings." It is often used in reference to organized competitions, such as sporting events, political elections, etc. A: "We're down by six points with only two minutes remaining. There's no way we can win now!" B: "Hey, it's not over till the fat lady sings!" It's not looking likely that the senator will be elected to another term, but it ain't over till the fat lady sings.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
till the fat lady sings
and when the fat lady singsFig. at the end; a long time from now. (Supposedly from a tale about a child—sitting through an opera—who asks a parent when it will be over. "Not until the fat lady sings" is the answer.) Relax. It won't be over till the fat lady sings. We can leave with everybody else when the fat lady sings.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
till the fat lady sings
and when the fat lady sings mod. at the end; a long time from now. (Supposedly from a tale about a child—sitting through an opera—who asks a parent when it will be over. “Not until the fat lady sings” is the answer.) Relax. It won’t be over till the fat lady sings. This trial will be over when the fat lady sings, and that’s all there is to it!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.