Skip to main content

Till the cows come home vs Till the fat lady sings

till the cows come home—do smth. continually for a very long time:

  • She likes to watch cartoons very much, she can sit before the TV and watch it till the cows come home.

till the fat lady sings—(U.S. sl.) till the end of smth.; until smth. is finally concluded (also: till the last dog is hung ):

  • This team has got heart of gold and spirit of an eagle, and will fight till the fat lady sings.

Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase till the pips squeak—(sl.) do smth. to the limit, even though it will make other people suffer (often with reference to excessive taxation):

  • Throughout my working life, and more so recently I’ve been taxed till the pips squeak.