Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
When it's 'raining cats and dogs,' it's pouring heavily—a classic British expression for torrential rain. The absurd image captures the extreme intensity of the rainfall.
Examples
- It's raining cats and dogs out there. 外面下着倾盆大雨Está lloviendo a cántaros外は土砂降りだ밖에 폭우가 쏟아지고 있어.
- We got caught in the rain—cats and dogs! 我们被暴雨淋了！Nos pilló el diluvio土砂降りに遭った！비를 만났는데—억수같이 쏟아졌어!
- Don't go out, it's raining cats and dogs. 别出去，外面下大雨呢No salgas, está lloviendo a mares出かけないで、土砂降りだから나가지 마, 비가 억수같이 오니까.
Pronunciation
/ˈreɪnɪŋ kæts ən dɒɡz/
Usage Guide
Context: weather, rain, intensity
Tone: descriptive, humorous
✓ Do Say
- Raining cats and dogs倾盆大雨Lloviendo a cántaros土砂降りだ비가 억수같이 쏟아지다
- It's cats and dogs下大雨了Está diluviandoどしゃ降りだ폭우가 내리고 있다
Common Mistakes
- The most famous animal weather idiom
Origin & History
The phrase dates from the 17th century. Origins disputed: possibly from thatched roofs where animals sheltered, or from streets flooding with debris. Most likely just absurdist hyperbole for heavy rain.
Etymology: Disputed: possibly gutters, thatched roofs, or pure hyperbole
First recorded: 17th century
Cultural Context
Era: 17th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Universal expression
Regional notes: British origin, global usage.
Story & Trivia
One theory suggests that in old London, heavy rain would flush dead animals out of the gutters. Another claims animals sheltered in thatched roofs and fell during storms. Both are probably folk etymologies—it's likely just vivid exaggeration.
Variations
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