idiom: until the fat lady sings

[Lucas Tun]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #524 "English Slang Idioms (108)", question 4

He knew that the courts traditionally favored awarding full custody of small children to the mother but he had to try. He knew that he probably wouldn't win but he told himself "It isn't over till the ......... lady sings" and he believed it.

(a) opera
(b) fat
(c) idol
(d) first

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #524 "English Slang Idioms (108)", answer 4

He knew that the courts traditionally favored awarding full custody of small children to the mother but he had to try. He knew that he probably wouldn't win but he told himself "It isn't over till the fat lady sings" and he believed it.

Correct answer: (b) fat

Your answer was: incorrect
He knew that the courts traditionally favored awarding full custody of small children to the mother but he had to try. He knew that he probably wouldn't win but he told himself "It isn't over till the first lady sings" and he believed it.
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I wonder why "fat lady".Is there any connotation with "fat lady" in the western culture?.I think ,it is more like a proverb.I wonder the story behind that proverb.

[JimmyAL]

Ha, that's quite confusing! I would have said 'opera'. Look what I found on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_ain't_over_till_the_fat_lady_sings

[Our Tort System]

[Beeesneees]

Nowadays, leading ladies of the opera tend to be more svelte, but the idiom persists.

The idiom (on the left) vs. the reality (on the right)


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"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Lucas Tun]

Great explanation,guys, thank you so much. I'll definitely use this idiom whenever i get a chance to use it. And thanks to the photos posted by beeesneees(i got your name right,huh?:) ), this idiom will be extremely easy to remember.