ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rain buckets

idiom
Meaning

To rain heavily


Origin

disputed origin

From figurative sense of pouring from buckets.

Examples
SIMPLE

It is raining buckets outside right now.

CONTEXTUAL

We had to cancel the outdoor picnic because it started raining buckets in the afternoon.

COMPLEX

Although the weather forecast promised clear skies, it began raining buckets just as the wedding ceremony commenced in the garden.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    holy buckets

    An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.

  2. 02

    make it rain

    To bring prosperity or work to an enterprise by selling, inventing or other productive or successful activity.

  3. 03

    pleasure and pain

    [Cockney slang]rain

  4. 04

    rain cats and dogs

    To rain very heavily.

  5. 05

    rain death

    To cause severe harm or violence.

  6. 06

    rain down

    To appear suddenly or inexplicably in large numbers.

  7. 07

    rain fire and brimstone

    To send horror or destruction.

  8. 08

    rain off

    to cancel (an event) due to excessive rain

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