# rain cats and dogs

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rain-cats-and-dogs
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To rain very heavily.

## Examples

- Take an umbrella — it's raining cats and dogs.
- We wanted to walk to the park, but it was raining cats and dogs all afternoon.
- The match was abandoned at half-time because it began to rain cats and dogs, leaving the pitch completely waterlogged.

## Origin

Attested from the 17th century (Richard Brome, 1651, has 'rain dogs and polecats'; Jonathan Swift used the modern form in 1738); despite many theories, the true origin is unknown. (unknown)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.