As
Swift
penned these lines in 1710, nearly 30 years before he wrote the book in which raining cats and dogs appears for the first time, it just might suggest that he was quoting an expression he himself had created.
What is the origin of the expression raining cats and dogs?
The phrase is
supposed to have originated in England in the 17th century
. City streets were then filthy and heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals. Richard Brome's The City Witt, 1652 has the line ‘It shall rain dogs and polecats'. Also, cats and dogs both have ancient associations with bad weather.
What figure of speech is raining cats and dogs?
When you say you're hungry enough to eat a horse, it's doubtful you mean that literally: it's just a figure of speech. When you say it's raining cats and dogs, pets aren't falling from the sky: it's a
figure of speech
. English is full of figures of speech, which are definitely not a case of language going to the dogs.
What does when it rain it pours mean?
Definition of when it rains, it pours
—
used to say that when something bad happens other bad things usually happen at the same time
The team not only lost the game but three of its best players were injured. When it rains, it pours.
Is the phrase it raining cats and dogs an idiom?
It's raining cats and dogs is an idiom
which means it's raining extremely heavily. The origin of the phrase raining cats and dogs is steeped in mystery.
Is raining cats and dogs a metaphor or idiom?
The statement “It's raining cats and dogs” is not a metaphor, which is a comparison of two unlike things. Instead, the phrase is
an idiom
,…
What is the nonliteral meaning of its raining cats and dogs?
non-Literal Language: It's raining cats and dogs outside. Meaning:
It's raining very hard outside
.
What figure of speech is he kicked the bucket?
A euphemism
is the use of agreeable or inoffensive words to replace rude or offensive ones. For example: kicked the bucket = has died.
What figure of speech is death where is thy sting?
=> it's
personification
.
What does can't hold a candle to mean?
If someone or something is just not as good enough when compared to another
, it is said that it can't hold a candle to the far superior, much better version.
What does it mean to cross that bridge when you come to it?
:
to not worry about a possible problem until it actually happens
I don't know how we'll pay the bills if you quit your job, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
What is the meaning of let sleeping dog lie?
Definition of let sleeping dogs lie
:
to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation
I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.
What is the meaning of stick his neck out?
If you stick your neck out, it means
you take a risk by saying or doing something that other people might not like
. Examples: John stuck his neck out and told the boss what we thought of him. He decided to stick his neck out and buy a new sports car, even though he hadn't asked his wife.
What does hitting the sack mean?
slang.
to go to bed; go to sleep
. He never hits the sack before midnight.
What's the origin of the phrase Easy as pie?
The first citation states “as easy as pie”
originated in Australia in the 1920s
. It grew from the term “pie on” or “pie at” which means to be very good at something. The root is the Maori word “pai” which means “good”. Hence, if you're good at something it will be as easy as pie.
Is idiom a figure of speech?
An idiom is a figure of speech
that means something different than a literal translation of the words would lead one to believe. For example, “it's raining cats and dogs” is a common idiom in English, but it's not meant to be taken literally: Household pets are not falling from the sky!
What does in a jam mean?
Idiom: in a jam.
in trouble or in a difficult situation
.
What is the difference between idioms and metaphors?
Idioms are almost nonsensical expressions, while there is a clear comparison in a metaphor. Simply put:
Idioms are used to make a point in a colloquial way. Metaphors are used to compare two things.
What does the phrase mums the word mean?
Definition of mum's the word
—
used to say that some information is being kept secret or should be kept secret
We want her birthday party to be a surprise, so mum's the word.
Why does kicking the bucket mean death?
When friends came to pray for the deceased, before leaving the room they would sprinkle the body with holy-water
. So intimately therefore was the bucket associated with the feet of deceased persons that it is easy to see how such a saying as ‘kick the bucket' came about.
What does kick rocks mean?
Americaninformal
used to tell someone rudely to go away
. Their public relations department more or less told me to kick rocks.
