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Post by Kasia on Apr 15, 2004 10:40:44 GMT -5
Do you know some idioms or expressions about heavy rain? It's raining cats and dogs It's raining pitchforks" "It's raining buckets (British "The rain is bucketing down"). "It's raining orange antenna balls" And what about North Carolinian expression "It's rainin' like a cow p*ssin' on a flat rock."? Dou you know it? "It's p***ing down" "It's raining stair-rods". - north England Can you add some more idioms or expressions about the rain or about the weather? Thank you in advance
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Post by KenWalsh on Apr 22, 2004 22:47:15 GMT -5
She's a blowin'. (to describe heavy winds)
I want to see some other responses but haven't come up with many on my own since North Carolina has an ideal climate and always perfect weather.
I can weigh in on the cats and dogs phrase. In a game I own (Origins), I read:
"In England, during the 17th century, storm drainage was nonexistent. Many household pets and stray animals drowned during heavy downpours. It was not unusual to see their bodies floating down the streets with the racing torrents. Today we use this expression to describe a heavy rain."
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Post by Kasia on Apr 23, 2004 1:09:44 GMT -5
Thank you Ken I was afraid that nobody would be interested in this subject. I was waiting and waiting and it's so nice to find your answer. Thank you! Kasia
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Jacek
New Member
hey
Posts: 46
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Post by Jacek on Apr 23, 2004 3:33:34 GMT -5
From what I know of this raining phrases, No native speaker alive has ever said "it's raining cats and dogs". The funny thing is that they teach us to use phrases like that at school.
A buddy of mine , who has been living in London for like 5 years told me that if I ever hear "it's raining cats..." it will be coming out of some foreigner's mouth for sure. Cause only foreigners talk like this.
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Post by Kasia on Apr 23, 2004 5:58:54 GMT -5
Thank you Jacek for your remark and I think this idiom is OLD-FASHIONED - as they write in dictionaries. I think however that this expression is still used by native speakers. Is it still used in USA?
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Post by Andrzej on Apr 23, 2004 8:28:48 GMT -5
Most Americans will just say "it's pouring down". Some will say "it's raining cats and dogs", but it won't be their first choice. You can always use the universal simile "...like crazy": It's raining like crazy. Today is 85F, no chance of rain We need to engage someone form Seattle in this conversation. They see a lot of heavy rains over there.
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Post by KenWalsh on Apr 23, 2004 9:26:17 GMT -5
My understanding is that Seattle has light rains that last for weeks. Their weather is quite temperate but wet without furious storms.
I've heard the generation older than me use "raining cats and dogs" frequently but less so in more recent years.
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