When it comes to something illusory or almost impossible, the familiar phrase “After the rain on Thursday” comes to mind. It means an event that will either never happen or is postponed indefinitely, writes WomanEL. To convey this meaning in Ukrainian, you can use several options.
Content Literal translationUkrainian equivalentsCultural adaptation 
“After the rain on Thursday.” Source: freepik.com
Literal translation
The simplest option is “After the rain on Thursday.” It is understandable, but not so natural for the Ukrainian language.
Ukrainian equivalents
More organic phraseological units that reflect the same meaning:
- “As cancer whistles” is the same as “never.”
- “How the eighth wonder of the world will come” is a hint at something unlikely.
- “To the next world with a letter” – with humor about the fact that the event is unlikely to happen.
- “Pears will grow on a willow tree” is a figurative expression about the impossible.
- “As the sun rises in the west” is another way of saying that waiting is in vain.
Cultural adaptation
In folk wisdom, each region has its own versions of similar sayings. For example, among the Hutsuls you can hear “As a bear plays the violin,” and among the people of Poltava – “As the sky falls to the ground.”
So, while a literal translation is possible, it is better to use more natural Ukrainian phrases. The choice depends on the context – whether it is humor or a formal situation.
Also find out which Ukrainian phraseologisms accurately convey the meaning of the Russian expression “Without hind legs.”