idiom meaning - What does "If wishes were fishes we'd all swim in riches" mean?


What does "If wishes were fishes we'd all swim in riches" mean?


This phrase doesn't make any sense to me, though I do understand the point it's making. But by the logic of the phrase, if a wish were a fish, why would we all just be swimming with the fishes?



Answer



If wishes were fishes: used to express the impossibility to make a wish come true.


It appears to come from and to be a variant of:



It actually comes or was borrowed from the not so commonly used, original nursery rhyme from Scotland:



If wishes were horses then beggars would ride,


If turnips were swords I’d have one by my side.


If ‘ifs’ and ‘ands’ were pots and pans


There would be no need for tinker’s hands!




Source: (www.doctoroz.com)


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