[Mastering the Idiom: 'It'll Never Fly']-[Easy English Expression 0283 it'll never fly]
📋 Summary
Understanding the Idiomatic Expression: "It'll Never Fly"
In this episode of Easy English Expressions, Coach Shane delves into the practical usage and nuances of the common English idiom, "It'll never fly." This phrase serves as a blunt but effective way to communicate that a specific idea, plan, or suggestion is fundamentally flawed and destined for failure.
Defining the Core Meaning
At its simplest level, "it'll never fly" is used when someone believes that an idea has zero chance of success. As Coach Shane explains, "the likelihood or the possibility is zero." When you use this expression, you are essentially telling the other person, "forget about it." It carries a strong nuance of discouragement, suggesting that the listener should "not even think about it" or "not waste your time thinking about it" because the objective will never occur or be successful.
Contextual Application and Nuance
Coach Shane illustrates the phrase through a hypothetical dialogue about an entrepreneur wanting to open a restaurant that sells bugs. In this scenario, the response "it'll never fly" is used to dismiss the business model as inherently unviable. The host emphasizes that while some cultures do consume insects, in the context of his upbringing in Wisconsin—where the diet was strictly limited to "hamburgers and hot dogs"—the concept of a bug restaurant is "not going to fly" because it won't be profitable or accepted.
Personal Reflection and Encouragement
Beyond the literal definition, the podcast touches on the ethical dilemma of using such a discouraging phrase. While the idiom is a powerful tool to signal that an idea is "not a good idea," Coach Shane poses a thought-provoking question to his listeners: Should you tell someone their dream will never fly, or should you "encourage them to try"? He acknowledges that "sometimes people are successful even though we don't think it's going to happen," highlighting that the idiom reflects the speaker's personal skepticism rather than an objective truth.
Real-World Example: The 10,000 Podcast Goal
To wrap up the lesson, Coach Shane applies the idiom to his own life. He discusses his ambitious goal of producing 10,000 podcasts—a feat that would take roughly 30 years to achieve given his current workflow. By inviting his audience to honestly assess his chances, he invites them to tell him, "Shane, it'll never fly." This self-deprecating example perfectly encapsulates the idiomatic usage: it identifies a goal that seems implausible or mathematically improbable.
Summary of Key Takeaways
- Idiom: "It'll never fly."
- Meaning: It will never happen; it will not be successful.
- Nuance: A dismissal of an idea, often suggesting the listener should abandon the plan entirely.
- Usage: Used when a suggestion is deemed impractical or doomed to fail, such as a business idea that lacks market viability or a personal goal that seems too far-fetched.
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