Mission impossible

Origin

While the words 'mission' and 'impossible' certainly existed independently, their fusion into the idiomatic 'Mission impossible' and its widespread popularization are inextricably linked to the iconic American espionage television series, Mission: Impossible. First airing in 1966, this groundbreaking show, created by Bruce Geller, captivated audiences with its premise: a team of secret agents, the Impossible Missions Force (IMF), were assigned assignments that were always, by definition, nearly unachievable. Each episode opened with the team leader receiving a self-destructing message detailing their next seemingly insurmountable task, firmly cementing the phrase in global pop culture as a high-stakes, thrilling, and ultimately surmountable challenge, despite its formidable appearance.