IDIOM: Raining Cats and Dogs

With all the rain Queensland has been having these past few months I have heard the phrase "It's Raining Cats and Dogs!" numerous times.

What does it mean? It is NOT raining cats and dogs, - it means it is raining very heavy, torrential rain.

Origins:

No one really knows where or how the origin of the phrase started.

However, way back in the 1600 and 1700's it was mentioned in literature with dogs and cats falling with the rain.

*1651 - Henry Vaughan - Olor Iscanus;

* 1652 - Richard Brome - The City Wit; 

* 1710 - Jonathan Swift - City Shower;

* 1738 - Jonathan Swift - Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation;

Theories as to why this saying became popular include animals, including cats and dogs, that would be washed down rivers after storms.

Another theory was during winter when cats and dogs died, it was often too cold to bury them as the ground would be icy, frozen and covered with snow. It was easier to store the dead animals on the top of the thatched roof and wait until warmer weather to bury them. With the spring rains the dead animals would often thaw and fall from the roof.

In Norse mythology the god Odin was responsible for storms and he is often depicted with dogs and wolves.

Comparing the noise that dogs and cats make to the sound of the torrential rain is a more recent interpretation.

Example sentences:-

It's 3o'clock and it is raining cats and dogs.

It is raining cats and dogs and the kids are playing softball.