When the fat lady sings Meaning in English

expression

US

WHEN thuh FAT LAY-dee SINGZ

UK

WEN thuh FAT LAY-dee SINGZ

释义

This expression means that something is not truly finished until the very end; the outcome is not decided until the 'fat lady sings.'

用法与细微差别

This is an informal, idiomatic, often humorous phrase mostly used for sports, competitions, or uncertain situations. It emphasizes that things can change until the official or dramatic ending. Avoid using it in formal writing. The 'fat lady' refers to opera endings, not a real person.

• Spanish: cuando la señora gorda canta (fin real de algo)
• Portuguese (BR): quando a gorda cantar (fim real de algo)
• Portuguese (PT): quando a senhora gorda canta (fim real de algo)
• Chinese (Simplified): 大胖女人唱歌的时候（真正结束时）
• Chinese (Traditional): 大胖女人唱歌的時候（真正結束時）
• Hindi: जब मोटी महिला गाती है (अर्थ: जब सच में कुछ समाप्त होता है)
• Arabic: عندما تغني السيدة البدينة (عند النهاية الحقيقية لشيء ما)
• Bengali: শেষ ঘণ্টা বাজা পর্যন্ত - সব শেষ না হওয়া পর্যন্ত
• Russian: ещё не вечер - пока не споёт толстая дама
• Japanese: 幕が下りるまで - 本当に終わるまで
• Vietnamese: chưa xong đâu - mọi chuyện chưa kết thúc đâu
• Korean: 끝날 때까지 끝난 게 아니다
• Turkish: her şey bitmeden bitmez - henüz sona ermedi
• Urdu: جب تک سب ختم نہ ہو جائے - کھیل ختم نہیں ہوا
• Indonesian: belum selesai sampai benar-benar berakhir - segalanya belum pasti berakhir

例句

It's not over when the fat lady sings.

basic

We still have a chance when the fat lady sings.

basic

Wait until the fat lady sings before giving up.

basic

Hey, don’t leave yet—it’s not over when the fat lady sings!

natural

Remember, it’s not decided until the fat lady sings.

natural

People thought the team would lose, but it wasn’t over when the fat lady sang.

natural