Q
QuestionEnglish

Is it true that the first recorded use of the phrase "when pigs fly" in print is in the 1616 play The Devil is an Ass by Ben Jonson?
5 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1
To answer this question, I'll break down the research and provide a clear analysis:

Step 2
: Initial Research

The claim suggests that Ben Jonson's 1616 play "The Devil is an Ass" contains the first printed use of the phrase "when pigs fly."

Final Answer

While Ben Jonson's 1616 play is an early documented use, it cannot be conclusively proven as the absolute first printed instance of the phrase "when pigs fly." Recommendation: Further historical linguistic research would be needed to definitively establish the phrase's first printed use.