AI for Breakfast

Post 82 - It’s the weekend, Idiom of the Day

Raining cats and dogs

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Figurative Meaning

The phrase "raining cats and dogs" is used to describe a heavy rainstorm, one that is unusually intense and pouring. It's a vivid way to depict the kind of rainfall that seems unrelenting and excessively fierce, as if not just water, but improbable objects like cats and dogs were falling from the sky.

Typical Usage

This idiom is commonly used in casual conversation or writing to exaggerate the severity of a rainstorm. For instance, someone might say, "I can't believe how much it's raining outside! It's literally raining cats and dogs." It conveys the speaker's impression of the rain's intensity in a humorous and hyperbolic manner.

Origin

The exact origin of the phrase "raining cats and dogs" is not definitively known, but there are several theories. One popular explanation suggests that it originated in 17th-century England. During heavy storms, many of the poorly constructed houses of the time would flood, and debris, including the bodies of animals that had been washed away by the storm, could be seen floating through the streets. This sight could have led to the imaginative expression that it looked as though animals had fallen from the sky.

Another theory relates to the Norse mythology, where dogs and wolves were often associated with wind and storms, and cats with heavy rains. Odin, the Norse god of storms, was depicted as being surrounded by dogs and wolves, leading to the association.

A more practical explanation refers to the old thatched roofs of European houses, which were thick and could be home to small animals like cats and dogs. During heavy rains, these roofs might leak, or the animals might fall through, giving a literal sense to the expression.

While these theories offer interesting historical contexts, it's important to note that the phrase "raining cats and dogs" is now purely idiomatic and used to express the idea of a heavy downpour, with no literal connection to the animals.