Never in wildest dreams

Meaning

The idiom "never in wildest dreams" means that something is extremely unlikely to happen or occur. It is a figurative expression used to convey the speaker's disbelief or skepticism towards a particular situation. The phrase may be used to emphasize the unlikely nature of an event or to express surprise or shock when something unexpected happens.

Usage

• "I never in wildest dreams thought I would win the lottery." - This sentence is used to express surprise and disbelief that the speaker actually won the lottery.
• "He promised me he would never cheat on me again, but then he did it again." - In this sentence, the speaker's initial disbelief that their partner would cheat on them turns into anger when they realize the deception.
• "I never in wildest dreams thought I would be able to run a marathon." - This sentence is used to express surprise and admiration for someone who was able to accomplish a seemingly impossible task.
• "I'll never in wildest dreams believe that he hurt her on purpose." - In this sentence, the speaker's disbelief that their friend would intentionally harm someone they care about turns into skepticism towards their friend's actions.
• "I never in wildest dreams thought I would end up being a pilot." - This sentence is used to express surprise and admiration for someone who was able to pursue a seemingly impossible career. The usage of the idiom can vary depending on the context, but it is commonly used to convey disbelief or skepticism towards something that seems unlikely to happen.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "never in wildest dreams" is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 19th century. It is a figurative expression that emphasizes the extreme likelihood of an event not occurring. The phrase may have evolved from older expressions such as "like thunder," which was used to express shock or surprise when something unexpected happened.

Synonyms in English

• "never happen,"
• "no way,"
• "it will never occur,"
• "absolutely not."

Synonyms in other languages

• French - "Je ne croy pas qu'il arriverait" (I don't believe it would happen)
• German - "Ich glaube nicht, dass das eintreten wird" (I don't believe that will happen)
• Spanish - "Nunca lo creo que sucedería" (I never believe it would happen)
• Italian - "Non credo che sia vero" (I don't believe it to be true)
• Japanese - "そう思わない" (I think it won't be like that)

Similar Idioms

• black book

• bread and butter

• bare bones