Appendix:Glossary - O

One thousand years
Events which took place long ago, or for which there is no written history, are said to have taken place "one thousand years ago". Such events may have taken place as little fifty years ago, or many thousands of years ago. The phrase is used to denote the impenetrable mists of time. The phrase "in one thousand years" is also sometimes used to describe an event which is unlikely to ever happen, similar to "when pigs have wings" or "when hell freezes over".