What does the phrase "IT AINT OVER UNTIL THE FAT LADY SINGS" mean? Where did it come from?

Answer 1

Cliché: It ain't over till the fat lady sings
Explanation: 1. Something isn't over until all of it is finished.
Country: United States
Origin: Referrs to the singer that comes on at the end of the opera.

Answer 2

The expression means "it's officially finished", and is especially used in a situation where it has been suggested that something has been resolved and is as good as finished -- esp. if the expected end is negative. So, if a ballgame looks like a blowout and there's no way a team can come back, someone might hold out a bit of hope "it ain't over. . . " (so don't give up yet).

The origin is not absolutely certain, though the "end of the opera" explanation is the most popular and attractive explanation. BUT it is NOT true that operas in general feature a female soloist singing the closing number. More likely the person who originated the expression was thinking of certain types of operas --like WAGNER'S , and perhaps a SPECIFIC opera an piece in it.


Check the following:

"The outcome of any contest isn't known until the final results are in. Thus, don't make premature judgments or give up too soon. Often associated with Wagnerian opera, specifically Brunhilde's 'Fire Song,' in 'Die Walkure,' and the fact that Wagner may seem interminable to nonaficionados. Thus one's impatience would be relieved when 'the fat lady sings.' Originated in the United States in the 1970s. Bartlett's 'Familiar Quotations' attributes the coinage to San Antonio TV sports commentator Dan Cook. Ralph Graves claims in the August 1991 issue of 'Smithsonian' that it has its roots in Southern proverbial lore: 'Church ain't out till the fat lady sings. There are still other attributions, but nobody really knows who coined this popular saying." From the "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/19/messages/174.html

Answer 3

Opera. The phase is used by theater goers to explain that the opera is not over until the lead singer (usually a fat lady, sometimes a fat man) sings the closing piece of the opera.

Answer 4

The expression is akin to that of Yogi Berra "It aint over til it's over". It's an allusion to the opera where an operatic performance stereotypically ends with an overweight female singer singing the last song of the performance. It's not over, so don't give up, don't quit trying, until it's finally, truly completely over.

Answer 5

it comes from early opera. a fat lady at the end would sing the closing act. thats were it came from.

Answer 6

I prefer, "It Ain't Over Til It's Over"....from the 1st Red Shoe Diaries movie.

Answer 7

came from the opera. & it meant what it says

Answer 8

i don't no but on tv u sho hear dat a lot

Answer 9

I dunno... but Will Smith used it Independence Day...