It's raining cats and dogs

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase It's raining cats and dogs, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression It's raining cats and dogs used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "It's raining cats and dogs"

Meaning

The expression "it's raining cats and dogs" is an English language idiom used to describe a very heavy rain. It is quite an old expression, with the first known written record of it appearing in 1652, in an anonymous book called "Townez Course of Sermons".

Etymology

The origin of the expression "it's raining cats and dogs" is uncertain. One popular theory suggests that it may be related to ancient Norse mythology, in which cats were associated with storms, and dogs with wind. In some areas of England, dogs ran loose in the streets, and when it rained heavily, they would often seek shelter in the eaves of houses and barns, thus creating the illusion that it was raining dogs.

Another theory suggests that the idiom may have been inspired by the heavy rainstorms that accompanied the Great Fire of London in 1666. There were so many cats, dogs, rats and other small animals running around trying to find shelter that it might have seemed like the rain was raining them down upon the city.

A third theory suggests that the expression may be derived from the Greek myth of Zeus, who turned the Lycian peasants into frogs, and the stormy-looking rain clouds into dogs and cats. Although this story has no direct link to the idiom, it is sometimes believed to be the origin of it.

Usage

The phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is mainly used in informal contexts, usually in the form of a joke. It can be used in the past tense (it was raining cats and dogs) or in the present tense (it's raining cats and dogs). The idiom can also be used to exaggerate a situation, for example: "It was so busy in the store today, it was raining cats and dogs!"

Example Sentences

• It was raining cats and dogs, so I decided to stay indoors and watch a movie.
• I can't believe it's raining cats and dogs again—the weather's been so dry all summer!
• I'll have to wait until it stops raining cats and dogs before I can go outside and mow the lawn.

Idioms have a common language

"The early bird catches the worm" is an English idiom that means that those who wake up early and start their day early are more likely to succeed. A similar idiom in Spanish is "El que madruga, Dios le ayuda," which translates to "God helps those who rise early." This idiom emphasizes the importance of starting the day early in order to achieve success.