# rain stopped play

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rain-stopped-play
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The cessation of an activity or operation due to rain (by analogy with cricket).

## Examples

- The rain stopped play during our tennis match.
- We were winning the game, but the rain stopped play just before the final set.
- Although the tournament organizers hoped to finish the final round today, the heavy rain stopped play, forcing a postponement until tomorrow morning.

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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.