rain cats and dogs

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌreɪn ˌkæts ən ˈdɔɡz/ · UK /ˌreɪn ˌkæts ən ˈdɒɡz/

rain cats and dogs means: To rain very hard.

verb

HEAVY RAINB1

To rain very hard.

It is raining cats and dogs.
It rained cats and dogs during our picnic.
If it rains cats and dogs, we will stay home.

How to use it: it rains cats and dogs (It rained cats and dogs all morning.)

Similar words: pour, pour down

Common phrases: rain cats and dogs, rain cats and dogs!

phrase

HEAVY RAINB1

Used when rain is falling very hard.

It is raining cats and dogs outside.
It rained cats and dogs last night.
We stayed inside because it was raining cats and dogs.

How to use it: it rains cats and dogs (It was raining cats and dogs when we left.)

Similar words: rain heavily

Common phrases: rain cats and dogs, rain cats and dogs!

Questions about rain cats and dogs

What does rain cats and dogs mean?

To rain very hard.

What is rain cats and dogs in other languages?

Türkçe: bardaktan boşanırcasına yağmak · Español: llover a cántaros · Français: pleuvoir à verse · Deutsch: in Strömen regnen · Italiano: piovere a catinelle · 日本語: 土砂降りになる

How do you pronounce rain cats and dogs?

In American English /ˌreɪn ˌkæts ən ˈdɔɡz/; in British English /ˌreɪn ˌkæts ən ˈdɒɡz/.

How do you use rain cats and dogs in a sentence?

It is raining cats and dogs. It rained cats and dogs during our picnic.

Learn rain cats and dogs while you read

LookItUp shows the meaning that fits your sentence, in your language, and turns new words into quick practice cards.

Coming soon on the App Store LookItUp app for iPhone and iPad