Unravelling “Raining Cats and Dogs”: A Dive into the Idiomatic Downpour
The English-language idiom “raining cats and dogs” or “raining dogs and cats” is used to describe particularly heavy rain. It is of unknown etymology and is not necessarily related to the raining animals phenomenon. The phrase has been used since at least the 17th century.
A number of possible etymologies have been put forward to explain the phrase. One possible explanation involves the drainage systems on buildings in 17th-century Europe, which were poor and may have disgorged their contents, including the corpses of any animals that had accumulated in them, during heavy showers.
This occurrence is described in Jonathan Swift’s 1710 poem “Description of a City Shower.” Another explanation is that “cats and dogs” may be a corruption of the Greek word Katadoupoi, referring to the waterfalls on the Nile, possibly through the old French word catadupe (‘waterfall’). In old English, catadupe meant a cataract or waterfall.
“Cats and dogs” may come from the Greek expression cata doxa, which means “contrary to experience or belief”; if it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining unusually hard. There is no evidence to support the theory that the expression was borrowed by English speakers.
An online rumor largely circulated through email claimed that, in 16th-century Europe, animals could crawl into the thatch of peasant homes to seek shelter from the elements and would fall out during heavy rain. However, no evidence has been found in support of the claim.
Usage and Variations
The first recorded use of a phrase similar to “raining cats and dogs” was in the 1651 collection of poems Olor Iscanus. British poet Henry Vaughan referred to a roof that was secure against “dogs and cats rained in shower.” One year later, Richard Brome, an English playwright, wrote in his comedy City Witt, “It shall rain dogs and polecats.”
Figurative Interpretation
In 1738, Jonathan Swift published his “Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation,” a satire on the conversations of the upper classes. One of his characters fears that it will “rain cats and dogs.” Whether Swift coined the phrase or was using a cliché, his satire was likely the beginning of the phrase’s popularity.
Swift also wrote a poem, “City Shower” (1710), that described floods that occurred after heavy rains. The floods left dead animals in the streets, and may have led locals to describe the weather as “raining cats and dogs.”
Examples
Why “cats and dogs”? We don’t know for certain. Etymologists — people who study the origins of words — have suggested a variety of mythological and literal explanations for why people say “it’s raining cats and dogs” to describe a heavy downpour.
- Odin, the Norse god of storms, was often pictured with dogs and wolves, which were symbols of wind. Witches, who supposedly rode their brooms during storms, were often pictured with black cats, which became signs of heavy rain for sailors. Therefore, “raining cats and dogs” may refer to a storm with wind (dogs) and heavy rain (cats).
- “Cats and dogs” may come from the Greek expression cata doxa, which means “contrary to experience or belief.” If it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining unusually or unbelievably hard.
- “Cats and dogs” may be a perversion of the now obsolete word catadupe. In old English, catadupe meant a cataract or waterfall. A version of catadupe existed in many old languages. In Latin, for example, catadupa was borrowed from the classical Greek κατάδουποι, which referred to the cataracts of the Nile River. So, to say it’s raining “cats and dogs” might be to say it’s raining waterfalls.
- A false theory stated that cats and dogs used to cuddle into thatch roofs during storms and then be washed out during heavy rains. However, a properly maintained thatch roof is naturally water-resistant and slanted to allow water to run off. In order to slip off the roof, the animals would have to be lying on the outside — an unlikely place for an animal to seek shelter during a storm.
We don’t know the exact origin of the phrase, but it has been used since at least the 17th century. Language learners can find idioms like “raining cats and dogs” both challenging and fascinating. Understanding the cultural and historical contexts behind idioms adds depth to language acquisition, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of expressions that make a language unique.
“Raining cats and dogs” is more than just a quirky phrase to describe heavy rain — it’s a linguistic puzzle with a history as varied as the interpretations of the idiom itself. As we continue to explore the richness of language, let’s embrace the diversity of idioms and the stories they tell.
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