you can't get a quart into a pint pot
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
You cannot fit a large object or amount in something smaller.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
One cannot achieve the impossible.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “you can't get a quart into a pint pot” mean?
You cannot fit a large object or amount in something smaller.
Is “you can't get a quart into a pint pot” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.