Pouring rain
Meaning
Very heavy rain that falls continuously and with great intensity.
Origin
The vivid image of heavy rain resembling water being emptied from a container is ancient. The verb 'pour,' derived from Old French roots meaning 'to empty' or 'to flow,' perfectly captures this visual. From as early as the late 14th century, English writers began to describe intense downpours as the 'poured out' or 'pouring' of rain, invoking a direct, visceral comparison between a torrent from the heavens and the deliberate act of emptying a vessel. This simple yet powerful metaphor, painting the sky as an overturned pitcher, solidified over centuries into the ubiquitous phrase 'pouring rain,' a vivid shorthand for nature's most dramatic deluges.
Examples
- The picnic was cancelled because of the pouring rain that started unexpectedly.
- We had to run for shelter as the pouring rain began to soak us through.