You must have an assuming that this expression has been derived from opera, which means that some stereotypical fat lady is singing to close the operas at the end. Some of the people have a theory that it has come from “The Ring of the Nibelung” by Richard Wagner, whereas that’s not really true. In his play, a character who closes out the lengthy twenty-minute opera is often a plump woman.
How did the phrase originate?
The expression in question seems to have originated in the 1970s. The credit for its invention is often given to Dan Cook, who was a sports broadcaster from San Antonio, Texas. He was working as a reporter for the playoff game between Spurs and the Washington Bullets in 1978, where the Spurs were down three games to one. Thus to state his offense, Cook said, “The opera ain’t over till the fat lady sings”. But even that is not considered as the exact origin of this phrase.
To figure it out, we must look a little more back in the past, i.e., in March of the year 1976, when Ralph Carpenter reported on “The Dallas Morning News”. Despite his obvious obligation for the Red Raiders, the Aggies rallied for a 72-72 tie in the SWC tournament finals. He still exhibited the picture of professional objectivity, and in his conversation with Bill Morgan, Southwest Conference information director, he said, – “The opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings”.
So, it is quite obvious that Cook is not the person who coined this phrase. However, due to his utterance, the phrase gained popularity, which also inspired the bullets coach, Dick Motta, to borrow the phrase and repeat it frequently. He repeated the word many times during the playoff run as a sort of battle cry against the overconfidence. The phrase became quite common from there, especially in the Southern United States.
The actual meaning of the phrase
The phrase “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings” means that a person must not assume the outcome of a circumstance until it reaches its end, as the outcome of the events might change with time.
Later in the year, it was noticed that many such phrases came into existence like “it ain’t over till it’s over” or “don’t count your chickens before they hatch”. And then, after around two years, both Dan Cook and Dick Motta picked up the phrases. They popularized the “opera” version to the masses, and the rest is history!
The quote denoted a straightforward and beautiful meaning which every person must use to express hope till the end moment, be it a game or anything. So, believe in yourself and let things go with the flow without worrying too much about them. Keep your focus clear and the ultimate goal in mind because it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.