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British Words and Phrases to Describe the Rain

7年前
Here are a few of the most stand-out phrases, often used when Brits get soaked!

1. It’s raining cats and dogs

Quite possibly the most famous of the lot, ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ has many theories. The most unbelievable (and believable, to be honest) is that in old England, dogs and cats used to sleep on the roofs of thatched houses, sliding off them when it started to rain. What it really means to Brits is just ridiculously heavy rain.

2. Tipping down

Another way to describe heavy rain is the phrase ‘tipping down’.
eg. ‘We can’t go to the beach today, as it’s 'tipping down'.

3. Drizzle

‘Drizzle’ means light rain to Brits, often when it’s raining but barely noticeable.

4. Spitting

For the rain to be ‘spitting’, it means it’s just starting.

5. Bucketing down

Similar to tipping down, bucketing down is another way to describe heavy rain. In its quite literal sense, it’s rain as if somebody is standing over your head pouring a bucket of water on you.

6. Nice weather… for ducks

simply insinuates that only ducks could enjoy the wet spell.

7. Trying to rain

‘Trying to rain’ means it’s starting to rain.

8. Downpour

used to describe a particularly heavy rain shower.

9. It’s raining sideways

‘It’s raining sideways’ is used when the wind is so strong that the heavy rain ends up falling horizontally instead of vertically. Not nice when you’re walking in its direction.

10. Drenched

Not so much a word to describe the rain itself, more so to describe how Brits often get when it rains. To get ‘drenched’ is to get soaked through.

Ready to learn more authentic English phrases? Book a trial lesson with one of our online English teachers today.
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Those are funny! I didn't know "tipping" or "spitting" or "trying to rain" and I love them! :)
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I'm glad that you like them :)
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Where I come from (the West Midlands) we would say spotting rather than spitting, and mean it was only a few spots of rain here and there.
Where I live now (in North Wales) the local expression for raining cats and dogs is mae'n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn or mae'n bwrw cyllyll a ffryc. Literally, it's raining old ladies and sticks or it's raining knives and forks.
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Thank you for the Welsh version Martyn - It's raining old ladies and sticks here in London hahahaha :)
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I had to do a double take on that one, Martyn - the Gaelic part. Now, that is a funny one, "raining old ladies and sticks"! Thank you for sharing, I love it!!!