Meanings
- alternativeAlternative form of it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
Just when you think it’s all over, there’s another tale to be told … What do they say? ‘It’s not over until the fat lady sings.’
2004, Jack Clyde, “A Free Hurl”, in Glasgow Taxi, London: Shepheard-Walwyn (Publishers) Ltd, →ISBN, section 2 (Pick-Ups and Put-Downs), page 572 more examples
Despite Yaffe’s ruling, Bradford said he was unbothered by Tuesday’s decision. “It’s not over until the fat lady sings, and you can quote me on that,” he said, noting his intention to appeal Yaffe’s decision.
1990 August 30, Michael Lawrence, “Ex-registrar loses UC policy conflict”, in Summer Bruin, volume CXXXI, number 20, Los Angeles, Calif.: Associated Students of the University of California, Los Angeles, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1, column 4“Of course we can’t treat anything as being in the bag. Not just yet.” / Claire appeared to agree. “Naturally. What do they say? It’s not over until the fat lady sings.” / “It’s not over until Terence is kind enough to sign. Which he will.”
2009 November 8, Alexander McCall Smith, “The Dog who Came in from the Cold Chapter 42: Behind the Arras”, in The Daily Telegraph, London: Telegraph Media Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 11 Nov 2009
Cite this entry
it's not over until the fat lady sings. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20not%20over%20until%20the%20fat%20lady%20sings
“it's not over until the fat lady sings.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20not%20over%20until%20the%20fat%20lady%20sings. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “it's not over until the fat lady sings,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/it's%20not%20over%20until%20the%20fat%20lady%20sings.
Source: it's not over until the fat lady sings on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.