It's raining cats and dogs Meaning in English

expression

US

ITS RAY-ning KATS and DAHGZ

UK

its RAY-ning kats and DOGZ

Definition

This expression means it is raining very heavily, with lots of rain coming down at once.

Usage & Nuances

Informal, very common in British and American English, but only as an idiom (not literal). Used for surprise or exaggeration. Don't use for light rain. Similar: 'pouring', 'coming down in buckets'. Not typically used in formal writing.

• Spanish: llueve a cántaros - está lloviendo a mares
• Portuguese (BR): está chovendo muito - está chovendo canivetes
• Portuguese (PT): está a chover muito - está a chover torrencialmente
• Chinese (Simplified): 下着倾盆大雨
• Chinese (Traditional): 下著傾盆大雨
• Hindi: मूसलधार बारिश हो रही है
• Arabic: تمطر بغزارة
• Bengali: মুষলধারে বৃষ্টি হচ্ছে - বৃষ্টি ঝরছে
• Russian: льет как из ведра
• Japanese: 土砂降りだ - バケツをひっくり返したような雨だ
• Vietnamese: mưa như trút nước
• Korean: 비가 억수같이 내린다 - 비가 쏟아진다
• Turkish: bardaktan boşanırcasına yağıyor
• Urdu: موسلادھار بارش ہو رہی ہے
• Indonesian: hujan deras sekali - hujan turun lebat

Example Sentences

It's raining cats and dogs outside, so take an umbrella.

basic

Don't forget your boots! It's raining cats and dogs today.

basic

I can't go to the park because it's raining cats and dogs.

basic

Wow, it's raining cats and dogs—I almost got soaked running to the car!

natural

If it's raining cats and dogs tomorrow, let's just stay in and watch movies.

natural

We got caught in traffic because it was raining cats and dogs all the way home.

natural