- Meaning
- This idiom describes an extremely heavy, torrential downpour or intense rainstorm, as if cats and dogs are falling from the sky in a chaotic deluge. It conveys a vivid sense of overwhelming precipitation, often used in weather-related, casual, or descriptive contexts to emphasize the severity of a storm with a touch of humor or exaggeration. The phrase carries a tone of astonishment, playfulness, or dramatic flair, reflecting cultural fascination with weather’s power and the human tendency to use whimsical imagery for natural phenomena. It resonates in regions prone to heavy rain, capturing the sensory overload of a deluge, and its animal imagery adds a layer of fantastical absurdity, evoking a surreal cascade of pets. The idiom often enhances storytelling or conversation, making it a colorful expression for describing stormy weather or, metaphorically, chaotic situations.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 17th-century England, rooted in folklore and the chaotic imagery of animals swept away in floods, possibly linked to stray cats and dogs drowning in heavy rains or being washed from rooftops, a grim sight in urban slums. Its earliest recorded use appears in Jonathan Swift’s 1738 *Polite Conversation*: ‘It rains cats and dogs.’ The idiom gained traction in the 18th century, reflecting Britain’s rainy climate and literary wit, as seen in Samuel Johnson’s essays on weather. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, particularly in nautical and rural narratives, with Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853) using it for stormy scenes. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through media, notably in weather reports and films like *Singin’ in the Rain* (1952), which embrace rainy imagery. Its spread to American and Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking a bizarre animal downpour, and its applicability to heavy rain ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from meteorology to poetic descriptions.
- Variants
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- Raining cats and dogs
- Pouring cats and dogs
- Raining like cats and dogs
- Cats and dogs rain
- Examples
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- It’s raining cats and dogs out there—grab an umbrella!
- Pouring cats and dogs, the streets were flooded in minutes.
- Raining like cats and dogs, we had to cancel the picnic.
- Cats and dogs rain, it was, soaking us on the hike.
- It’s raining cats and dogs, so the game’s been postponed.
- Raining cats and dogs, the storm turned the yard into a lake.
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