Rain cats and dogs origin. Interesting origin of English idioms (British version)

Of all the English idioms, it is “rainy” that seems to a Russian person to be complete nonsense: it’s hard to understand at first glance why “they” have animals falling from the sky during a downpour varying degrees exotic and life-threatening items. It's raining cats and dogs, it rains pitchforks and stair-rods - the origin of these phrases is as vague as Albion itself. And each, like a worthy English joke, has its own zest.

Let's start with the most difficult case - with "cats and dogs". British etymologists are still not sure what it is - a successful verbal pirouette of the 18th century, a description of a global natural cataclysm, or an attempt to reflect the howling of a rebellious element in a comically laconic form.

The verbal pirouette belongs to Mr. Jonathan Swift - the same Swift who invented Gulliver and the word "Yahoo" (yehu). In The Complete Collection of Noble and Witty Conversations, he wrote:

"I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs ".

And thus beautifully referred to another work of almost thirty years ago. The poetic sketch "Description of a downpour in the city" perfectly reflected Swift's modernity both in 1710 and in 1738: strong streams of water washed dead cats and puppies out of the gutters and carried them through the streets. What can you say? An unsightly sight is a perfect target for a caustic satirist!

A little earlier, another satirist, Richard Brom, in the comedy "City wit, or a woman in breeches" (1652), stated that it was not cats at all, but ferrets:

“It shall rain dogs and polecats.”

Polecat - black forest ferret; in Great Britain prospered everywhere until the end of the 19th century. Unlike cats, ferrets can swim, so it's more likely that the sounds of heavy rain resemble a squabble between a wild ferret and a dog.

And then - more interesting. In the poetry collection "The Swan from the Ask River" (1651), it is about the "soul" of cats and dogs. And it would be nice if there were just a lot of unfortunate animals, figuratively speaking. But no - the poet Henry Vaughn (by the way, a Welshman, not a Korean) claims that "the roof will reliably protect the pedlars' goods" from such a disaster:

“... from dogs and cats rained in the shower.”

And this already draws on a natural cataclysm, unusual for us, but quite familiar to them.

As an island nation, Britain has seen many storms and storms, however, written eyewitness accounts from the 15th to the 18th centuries have survived partially or not survived at all. But there is plenty of information about the most formidable hurricane in the history of the country, the Great Storm of 1703 - thanks to the enterprising spy-intelligence officer Daniel Defoe. This hurricane swept from Wales to London with a thunderstorm and a downpour, destroying houses, uprooting trees, breaking English ships. According to witnesses, "no one could believe a hundredth of what he saw."

As for Defoe himself, he was fabulously lucky both as a person and as a writer. Just a couple of days before the hurricane, he was released from prison (recruited by conservatives and heavily in debt), and immediately after the rampage of the elements he interviewed numerous eyewitnesses - know-how in journalism of that era - and wrote the novel "Storm". His contemporary Swift was then in Dublin, where the hurricane did not reach. If things had turned out differently, who knows what other expressions would be added to the British English of the New Age, besides raining cats and dogs?

The Americans did not stand aside and made their contribution to the language. In a comedy by David Humphreys, another witty aide-de-camp to George Washington, A Yankee in England (1815), there is this:

"I "ll be even with you, if it rains pitchforks-tines downwards."

Then the phrase "simplified" to it's raining like pitchforks. When piercing streams of rain pierce an umbrella or fabric of clothing - this is it))

hammer handles ( it rains hammer handles) and chicken cages ( it rains chicken coops) was also invented by the Americans, but who specifically and under what circumstances is difficult to say, because everything is true: from onomatopoeia to a downpour hurricane.

An interesting idiom belongs to the ingenuity of the Australians: it's a frog strangler(originally it's a frog strangling downpour). In fact, no one strangles the frogs, they just drown, because there is a flood on the street!

Let's go back to Britain, there were metal bars left: it's raining stair-rods. These are the same shiny decorative gizmos with which they lay out the front carpet paths on the marble stairs. The hurricane has nothing to do with it, we are talking about a strong, strong downpour in a calm: long, even jets really resemble rods (well, or strokes, as in Chinese engravings).

Complain about the "prickly" rain " it rains darning needles” (literally “darning needles”). And about a noisy, violent downpour they say: it's bucketing" (originally " it's raining buckets"- pours like a bucket) or" it's raining wolves and tigers" and even " it's raining elephants and giraffes» - the choice depends on the amount of water, the power of sound effects and personal desire to joke. Let's write it down here it's raining kittens and puppies- about a weak, drizzling rain. The last three expressions, as you can see, are derivatives of " cats and dogs».

Well, we figured out the idiomatic raisins, wandered etymologies in the wilds of the Amazon, it's time to remember the anecdote:

"Gosh, it's raining cats and dogs," said Fred looking out of the kitchen window.
"I know," said his mother. "I've just stepped in a poodle!"
(Poodle ["pu: dl] - poodle, puddle ["pʌdl] - puddle. Who wants to translate - go for it!)

And let's close the "rainy" topic)

2 it rains cats and dogs

3 it rains cats and dogs

4 It rains cats and dogs

5 it rains cats and dogs

like a shower

6 cats and dogs

7 rain

See also other dictionaries:

it rains cats and dogs- rain is coming down like a flood, it is raining heavily, it is pouring ... English contemporary dictionary

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weather lore- is the body of informal folklore related to the prediction of the weather.It has been a human desire for millennia to make accurate weather predictions. Oral and written history is full of rhymes, anecdotes, and adages meant to guide the… … Wikipedia

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Tierregen- Fischregen in Singapore in der Beschreibung von Einheimischen Der Begriff Tierregen bezeichnet ein seltenes meteorologisches Phänomen, bei dem (oft flugunfähige) Tiere vom Himmel "regnen". Hierüber liegen historische Berichte und moderne Belege… … Deutsch Wikipedia

rain- NOUN 1) the condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate drops. 2) (rains) falls of rain. 3) a large quantity of things falling or descending: a rain of blows. VERB 1) (it rains, it is raining … English terms dictionary

rainless- rain NOUN 1) the condensed moisture of the atmosphere falling visibly in separate drops. 2) (rains) falls of rain. 3) a large quantity of things falling or descending: a rain of blows. VERB 1) (it rains, it is raining … English terms dictionary

rain rainless adj. rainlessness, n. /rayn/, n. 1. water that is condensed from the aqueous vapor in the atmosphere and falls to earth in drops more than 1/50 in. (0.5 mm) in diameter. cf. drizzle (def. 6). 2. a rainfall, rainstorm, or shower: We had… … Universalium

rain- rain1 W2S2 n [: Old English; Origin: regn] 1.) [U] water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky ▪ a night of wind and rain in the rain ▪ I left my bicycle out in the rain. heavy/torrential/pouring rain (=a lot of rain) ▪ There… … Dictionary of contemporary English

rain- 1 /reIn/ noun 1 (U) water that falls in small drops from clouds in the sky: Rain is forecast for tomorrow. | We ve had 5 inches of rain in two days! | We got caught in the rain and I m soaked through. | it looks like rain! spoken (=it is probably … Longman dictionary of contemporary English

To rain cats and dogs is to rain very heavily. The metaphor behind the phrase is that of a dog and a cat fighting, something noisy and violent. The same metaphor is behind the Russian phrase "live like a cat and a dog"

There is one trademark English idiom about rain "it rains cats and dogs" = it rains very hard (literally: "it rains dogs and cats"). Behind this expression is a metaphor for a fight between a dog and a cat, noisy and fierce. The same metaphor is behind the Russian expression "they live like a cat and a dog"

The metaphor of a storm resembling a dog and cat fight dates to the mid-17th century, although the phrase, as we know it today, first appeartd in Jonathan Swift's Polite Conversation, written circa 1708 and published thirty years later: "I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs."

This metaphorical comparison of a heavy rainstorm and a fight between a dog and a cat appeared in the middle of the 17th century, although the expression in its present form first appeared around 1708 in Jonathan Swift's Polite Discourse: "I know that John will go (leave), although he probably knew that there would be a heavy downpour"

Despite having a simple and obvious explanation, the phrase has inspired a number of fanciful origin stories that at best have little evidence to support them and at worst are obvious hoaxes.

Despite the simple and obvious explanation of this expression, it has caused a lot of speculation about its origin, in best case ill-founded, and at worst - frankly false

Perhaps the most famous is the internet myth that states the phrase is from the fact that dogs and cats (and other animals) would live in thatched roofs of medieval homes. Heavy rain would drive the cats and dogs out of their rooftop beds; hence the phrase.

Perhaps the most famous internet myth is that the expression originated because dogs and cats (and other animals) often lived in the thatched roofs of houses in the Middle Ages. Heavy rain allegedly chased dogs and cats out of the thatch covering the house.

Explanations are offered for this expression from the obsolete French word catdoupe = waterfall or from the mythology of the northern peoples, where cats influenced the weather, and the sky god Odin was accompanied by wolves (relatives of dogs)

The most likely explanation is the simplest. The noise and violence of a storm is the metaphorical equivalent of a cat and dog fight.

The simplest explanation is the most likely. The noise and force of the downpour are metaphorically compared to a fight between a dog and a cat.

Consider the meaning and example of using the idiom It's raining cats and dogs.

And most importantly, let's 6 versions her origin.

This is one of the most strange English idiom. Its literal meaning is roughly as follows: it is raining cats and dogs.

And she means only pouring rain (pouring like a bucket):

It's raining cats and dogs- it's raining heavily
Usage example: It's raining cats and dogs out there!

Of course, the most interesting thing in this phraseological turnover is its origin. Probably, fortunately, it has not yet been clarified. This created an excellent basis for various versions and assumptions. Wake up fantasy.

Let's look at the most popular versions of the idiom that happened and try to assess their realism in a big way.

1. Thatched roofs

The version that in the Middle Ages peasants lived in houses covered with straw and for some reason did not want to let any animals into the house, even cats, was widely known. So, in protest, pets lived in a friendly commune on this very roof.
Well, when it was raining heavily, the owners could watch from the window how the "communards" merge from the roof along with streams of water.

Well, the option is captivating our imagination, but clearly unrealistic. First of all, it is not clear how the dogs dangled back and forth, they always had problems climbing onto the roof.

In addition, it is known that in the Middle Ages, peasants often kept pets in the house, but there is no news that they were not allowed there. By the way, the English idiom three dog night (very cold night) just indicates that dogs were not only allowed into the house, but also into bed on cold nights, to keep warm.

2. Cat-dog fight

Another common version is that the sounds made during a fight between a cat and a dog are similar to the sounds of heavy rain. This version is supported by the argument that idioms about the enmity of cats and dogs, for example - fight like cats and dogs, are generally widespread among the British. So why not adapt this circumstance to this case.

Alas, but in my opinion it doesn’t beat either: the sound of the shower is rather measured, and there are no random barks, meows and hisses in it. But a strong thunderstorm, on the contrary, is more powerful and majestic in its sound than some kind of swara of two eternal tailed rivals.

3 Norse Myth

As if in response to these arguments, a "strengthened" version of a fighting dog and cat appears. At ancient god storms of Odin, the satellites consisted of wolves (or dogs), symbolizing the wind, and some mythological black cats foreshadowed showers. And such a shock combination of wind (dogs) and downpour (cats), they say, symbolizes the desired powerful downpour.

To a natural question, what does good old England have to do with it, one can come across a reference to the fact that the Royal Navy has a tradition that comes from this myth to keep a cat on ships because of its ability to portend a thunderstorm with a downpour. But then, along the way, the dog disappeared somewhere ...

To be honest, in general, this version looks too abstract and bookish for the emergence of a phraseological phrase popular among the people. And besides, there are minor stretches in it: dogs are not exactly wolves, it is not clear whether these types of dogs converged with these black cats in the myth itself or they have already been “crossed” for the task of explaining this idiom.

4. Gutters

This version is based on the fact that during the period of the emergence of this idiom (approximately 16-17 centuries), the system of urban sewage (sewerage) in England was bad. In the sewers and drainage pipes, in addition to sewage and garbage, the bodies of dead cats and dogs accumulated. And during heavy downpours, powerful streams of water carried all this to flooded streets, thereby “raining” dogs and cats.

It is curious that the description of such a shower belongs to Jonathan Swift in his work "Description of a City Shower" (1710), in which dead puppies and cats, as well as smelly garbage, are just swimming: "Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, Dead cats and turnip-tops come tumbling down the flood."

It is even more curious that it is Jonathan Swift who is considered the author who first used this idiom in writing in the form that has come down to us. In the satirical work “Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation” (1738), which was popular in those years, in which the conversations of representatives of the nobility were ridiculed, there is the following phrase: “"I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs"" ("I know Sir John will go there, although he did not doubt that there would be heavy rain").

It is not known whether Swift coined this phrase or used an already established expression, but it is very likely that it was he who provided her with popularity. Whereas other authors used less successful phrases for the same designation of heavy rain, such as "it's raining pitchforks" or "it's raining stair-rods".

Honestly, this version seems to me the most vital, although not at all romantic. A formal objection may be that cats and dogs in it do not fall from the sky with the rain. But to one degree or another, this applies to all the considered versions, except for the sixth.

5. Greek-French "waterfall"

There is another rather refined version of the origin of this phrase by consonance from the Greek word katadoupoi or from the French word catadupe (both mean waterfall).

It is assumed that from learned people this word was uncritically transferred to everyday life, giving it both a new spelling and a new meaning that were understandable to ordinary people.

Of course, linguistically this version is interesting, but it looks more like a speculative rebus than a living history of a living idiom. It is completely incomprehensible to whom and why it was necessary to turn the "waterfall" into a "cat-and-dog downpour." And why this strange neoplasm had to take root in the English language.

6. Historical precedent

Finally, the last, most dubious version. What if there really was a case when cats and dogs fell from the sky along with the rain? For example, during a terrible storm or a hurricane that had previously lifted them into the sky?

What can you say? There is no historical evidence of such an event. Yes, and it would be strange to expect that these creatures, which suddenly began to fly, gathered in large numbers for a flight, so that later they would please their owners with a massive eruption from heaven.

Oddly enough, the very first recorded use of a phrase similar to the one we are considering refers to this dubious version. The work of the British poet Henry Vaughan, published in the poetry collection Olor Iscanus, refers to the roof as a protection against “dogs and cats rained in shower” (dogs and cats falling with the downpour). But what do you take from a poet?

A hypothetical possibility of real contemplation of pets raining from the sky could be the Great Storm of 1703, which brought with it huge destruction. Writer Daniel Defoe, in the fresh wake of this formidable natural phenomenon, wrote the novel "Storm". I didn’t read it, but if there was something on the topic of interest to us, then Wikipedia would not be able to remain silent.

So, there is no unequivocal answer to the question of the origin of the It's raining cats and dogs idiom. And apparently it will never appear. There are only versions of varying degrees of plausibility.

Just use network buttons below .

The most common version: earlier, the roofs of residential buildings were covered with several layers of straw, and for pets this was the only place to keep warm. Therefore, many dogs, cats and other small animals often climbed onto the roofs. When it rained, the roof became slippery and sometimes animals fell from there. For the same reason, four-poster beds were so common in the past: such a “roof” over the bed saved the sleeping people so that something unexpected would not fall on their heads.

There are other versions of the origin of this idiom:

It is believed that at one time the streets of British cities were built so badly that during thunderstorms and downpours there were constant flooding, and many cats and dogs died. Leaving their homes after the elements, people saw floating corpses, and believed that they fell from the sky (like the notorious rain of frogs).

Previously, cats were believed to influence bad weather (especially among sailors), and dogs were symbols of thunderstorms, storms and often accompanied the image of Odin, the Norse god of war and lord of storms. Therefore, when especially violent storms came, people believed that they were caused by cats (bringing rain) and dogs (wind).