Interesting origins of English idioms (British version). Litdetektiv: “rainy” idioms in English Cats and dogs rain

Of all the English idioms, it is “rainy” that seems complete nonsense to Russians: it is difficult to understand at first glance why “they” have animals of varying degrees of exoticism and life-threatening objects falling from the sky during a rainstorm. It’s raining cats and dogs, it rains pitchforks and stair-rods – the origin of these phrases is as vague as Albion itself. And each, like a worthy English joke, has its own twist.

Let's start with the most difficult case - with “cats and dogs”. British etymologists are still not sure what this is - a successful verbal pirouette of the 18th century, a description of a global natural disaster, or an attempt to reflect the howls of a rebellious element in a comically laconic form.

The verbal pirouette belongs to Mr. Jonathan Swift - the same Swift who invented Gulliver and the word “Yahoo”. In his book, The Complete Collection of Noble and Witty Conversations, he wrote:

"I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs ".

And thus he beautifully referred to his other work almost thirty years ago. The poetic sketch “Description of a Rainfall in a City” perfectly reflected Swift’s contemporary times in both 1710 and 1738: strong streams of water washed dead cats and puppies out of the gutters and carried them through the streets. What can I say? An unsightly sight is a perfect target for a caustic satirist!

A little earlier, another satirist, Richard Brome, in the comedy “The City Wit, or the Woman in Breeches” (1652), said that it’s not about cats at all, but about ferrets:

“It shall rain dogs and polecats.”

Polecat – black forest ferret; in Great Britain prospered everywhere until the end of the 19th century. Unlike cats, ferrets can swim, so it’s more likely that the sounds of heavy rain are reminiscent of a squabble between a wild ferret and a dog.

And then it gets more interesting. The poetry collection “The Swan of the River Ask” (1651) talks about the “soul” of cats and dogs. And it would be nice if there were just a lot of unfortunate animals, figuratively speaking. But no - the poet Henry Vaughan (by the way, a Welshman, not a Korean) claims that “the roof will reliably protect the peddlers’ goods” from such a disaster:

“…from dogs and cats rained in shower.”

And this is already drawing on a natural cataclysm, unusual for us, but quite familiar “to them.”

As an island state, Britain has seen many storms and storms, however, written eyewitness accounts from the 15th to the 18th centuries have survived partially or not at all. But there is plenty of information about the most formidable hurricane in the history of the country, the Great Storm of 1703 - thanks to the enterprising spy-reconnaissance Daniel Defoe. This hurricane, with thunder and rain, swept from Wales to London, destroying houses, uprooting trees, and smashing English ships. According to witnesses, "no one could believe a hundredth part of what he saw."

As for Defoe himself, he was incredibly lucky both as a person and as a writer. Just a couple of days before the hurricane, he was released from prison (recruited by conservatives and completely in debt), and immediately after the storm, he interviewed numerous eyewitnesses - know-how in journalism of that era - and wrote the novel “Storm”. His contemporary Swift was then in Dublin, where the hurricane did not reach. If everything had turned out differently, who knows what other expressions would have been added to the British English of the New Age, besides raining cats and dogs?

The Americans did not stand aside and made their contribution to the language. In the comedy by David Humphreys, another witty adjutant of George Washington, “A Yankee in England” (1815), the following occurs:

"I"ll be even with you, if it rains pitchforks-tines downwards."

Then the phrase "simplified" to it's raining like pitchforks. When piercing streams of rain pierce an umbrella or the fabric of clothing - this is it))

Hammer handles ( it rains hammer handles) and chicken cages ( it rains chicken coops) was also invented by the Americans, but who exactly and under what circumstances is difficult to say, because everything is true: from onomatopoeia to a rainstorm.

An interesting idiom comes from the ingenuity of the Australians: it's a frog strangler(originally it's a frog-strangling downpour). In fact, no one is strangling the frogs, they are just drowning because there is a flood outside!

Let's return to Britain, there are metal rods left: it's raining stair-rods. These are the same shiny decorative things that are used to lay out ceremonial carpets on marble staircases. The hurricane has nothing to do with it, we are talking about a strong, strong downpour in a calm: long, even streams really resemble rods (or strokes, as in Chinese engravings).

People complain about the “prickly” rain “ it rains darning needles"(literally "darning needles"). And about the noisy, frantic downpour they say: “ it's bucketing" (originally " it's raining buckets" - it's pouring like buckets) or " it's raining wolves and tigers" and even " it's raining elephants and giraffes“- the choice depends on the amount of water, the power of sound effects and the personal desire to joke. We'll write it down here it's raining kittens and puppies- about the weak, drizzling rain. The last three expressions, as can be seen, are derivatives of “ cats and dogs».

Well, we’ve sorted out the idiomatic punchlines, wandered into the wilds of the Amazon etymology, it’s time to remember the joke:

“Gosh, it’s raining cats and dogs,” said Fred looking out of the kitchen window.
“I know,” said his mother. “I’ve just stepped in a poodle!”
(Poodle ["pu:dl] - poodle, puddle ["pʌdl] - puddle. Anyone who wants to translate - go for it!)

And let’s close the “rainy” topic)

1. Play it by ear- make decisions on the spot, depending on the circumstances
Literal translation: play with the ear

Origin:

This statement comes from musical practice, since “playing something by ear” means “to play without notes, by ear.” This musical meaning can be traced back to the 16th century, but the modern meaning appeared in the mid-20th century in the USA and first related to sports. Now it can be used in any context.

Examples:

He decided to remain calm and play it by ear.
He decided to remain calm and act according to the situation.

Let's play it by ear
Wait and see

2. It rains cats and dogs- rain cats and dogs
Literally: rain of cats and dogs

Origin:
According to one version, this expression refers to a time when the city's sewage system was so bad that after a thunderstorm, drowned cats and dogs lay everywhere on the streets. Seeing their corpses, the superstitious townspeople thought that they had all fallen from the sky. According to the second version, according to northern mythology, cats predict the weather, and dogs predict the wind. Thus, a cat can be considered a symbol of rain, and a dog a symbol of gusty wind. Each explanation has its supporters, and both versions deserve attention. The American version of this expression is it rains pitchforks.

Example:
“Listen to that rain!” “It’s raining cats and dogs!”
-Just listen!
-What a downpour!

3. fat chance- not in life, not for anything
Literally: fat chance

Origin:
The origin of this phrase is unknown, but the use of the word "fat" is a sarcastic version of the expression "slim chance". A similar expression is “Chance would be a fine thing,” its meaning is: someone wants this to happen, but it is unlikely to happen.

Example:
Do you think he"ll change his mind? - Fat chance!
- Do you think he might change his mind? - No way in the world!

4. A red herring- red herring (often used in detective stories: it was important for the investigation, but in the end it turned out to be unimportant)
Literally: red herring

Origin:
Red herring is a smoked herring that has a very strong smell, so it is used by hunters to train hounds. Smoked herring, which was dragged along the ground, left a strong smell, and the dogs were trained so that they, not paying attention to this smell, continued to run on the fox's trail.

Example:
The suspicion of corruption is a total political red herring and an attempt to draw attention away from the main issues of the election campaign.
The accusation of corruption is an absolute political deception and an attempt to distract attention from the main issues of the election campaign.

The verbal pirouette belongs to Mr. Jonathan Swift - the same Swift who invented Gulliver and the word “Yahoo”. In his book, The Complete Collection of Noble and Witty Conversations, he wrote:

"I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs ".

A little earlier, another satirist, Richard Brome, in the comedy “The City Wit, or the Woman in Breeches” (1652), said that it’s not about cats at all, but about ferrets:

“It shall rain dogs and polecats.”

“…from dogs and cats rained in shower.”

And this is already drawing on a natural cataclysm, unusual for us, but quite familiar “to them.”

"I"ll be even with you, if it rains pitchforks-tines downwards."

Then the phrase "simplified" to it's raining like pitchforks. When piercing streams of rain pierce an umbrella or the fabric of clothing - this is it))

Well, we’ve sorted out the idiomatic punchlines, wandered into the wilds of the Amazon etymology, it’s time to remember the joke:

And let’s close the “rainy” topic)

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To rain cats and dogs is to rain very heavily. The metaphor behind the phrase is that of a dog and a cat fighting, something noisy and violent. The same metaphor is behind the Russian phrase "they live like a cat and a dog"

There is one proprietary English idiom about rain “it rains cats and dogs” = it is raining very heavily (literally: “it is raining dogs and cats”). Behind this expression is a metaphor for a fight between a dog and a cat, noisy and fierce. The same metaphor is behind the Russian expression “they live like a cat and a dog”

The metaphor of a storm resembling a dog and cat fight dates to the mid-17th century, although the phrase, as we know it today, first appeartd in Jonathan Swift’s Polite Conversation, written circa 1708 and published thirty years later: "I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs."

This metaphorical comparison of a heavy rainfall and a fight between a dog and a cat dates back to the mid-17th century, although the expression in its current form first appeared around 1708 in Jonathan Swift's Polite Conversation: "I know John will go, although he probably knew that there would be heavy rain"

Despite having a simple and obvious explanation, the phrase has inspired a number of fanciful origin stories that at best have little evidence to support them and at worst are obvious hoaxes.

Despite the simple and obvious explanation of this expression, it has given rise to much speculation about its origins, poorly substantiated at best and outright false at worst.

Perhaps the most famous is the internet myth that states the phrase is from the fact that dogs and cats (and other animals) would live in thatched roofs of medieval homes. Heavy rain would drive the cats and dogs out of their rooftop beds; hence the phrase.

Perhaps the most famous internet myth is that the expression originated because in the Middle Ages, dogs and cats (and other animals) often lived in thatched roofs of houses. Heavy rain allegedly drove dogs and cats out of the straw covering the house.

Other proposed explanations include the idea that the phrase is from the archaic French catdoupe, meaning waterfall or cataract, or that it uses imagery from Norse mythology, where cats had an influence on the weather, and Odin, the sky god, was attended by wolves.

Explanations are offered for this expression from an obsolete French word catdoupe = waterfall or from the mythology of the northern peoples, where cats influenced the weather, and the sky god Odin was accompanied by wolves (relatives of dogs)

The most likely explanation is the simplest. The noise and violence of a storm is the metaphorical equivalent of a cat and dog fight.

The simplest explanation is the most likely. The noise and force of the rain is metaphorically compared to a fight between a dog and a cat.

Let's look at the meaning and example of using the idiom It's raining cats and dogs.

And most importantly, we’ll figure it out 6 versions its origin.

This is one of the most strange idioms of the English language. Its literal meaning is something like this: it is raining cats and dogs.

And that means she only torrential rain (pours like buckets):

It's raining cats and dogs– it’s raining heavily
Usage example: It's raining cats and dogs out there!

Of course, the most interesting thing about this phraseological turn is its origin. It is probably fortunate that it has not been clarified. This created an excellent basis for various versions and assumptions. Awakens fantasy.

Let's look at the most popular versions of the idiom that happened and try to assess their realism.

1. Thatched roofs

A version that became widely known was that in the Middle Ages, peasants lived in houses covered with straw and for some reason did not want to let any animals, even cats, into the house. So the pets, as a sign of protest, lived in a friendly commune on this very roof.
Well, when it was raining heavily, the owners could watch from the window how the “communards” merged from the roof along with the streams of water.

Well, the option captures our imagination, but is clearly unrealistic. First of all, it is not clear how the dogs were running back and forth; they always had problems climbing onto the roof.

In addition, it is known that in the Middle Ages peasants often kept pets in the house, but there is no news that they were not allowed there. By the way, the English idiom three dog night (a very cold night) just indicates that dogs were allowed not only into the house, but also into bed on cold nights, to warm up.

2. Cat and dog fight

Another common version is that the sounds produced during a fight between a cat and a dog are similar to the sounds of stormy rain. This version is supported by the argument that idioms about the enmity of cats and dogs, for example - fight like cats and dogs, are generally widespread among the British. So why not adapt this circumstance to this case as well.

Alas, in my opinion it doesn’t beat either: the sound of the rain is rather measured, and no random barking, meowing or hissing can be discerned in it. But a strong thunderstorm, on the contrary, is more powerful and majestic in its sound than some kind of quarrel between two eternal tailed rivals.

3. Norse myth

As if in response to these arguments, a “strengthened” version of the dog and cat fighting appears. The ancient god of storms Odin had wolves (or dogs) as his companions, symbolizing the wind, and some mythological black cats foreshadowed downpours. And this striking combination of wind (dogs) and rain (cats), they say, symbolizes the sought-after powerful downpour.

To answer the natural question, what does good old England have to do with it, you can find a reference to the fact that in the Royal Navy there is a tradition, going back to this myth, of keeping a cat on ships because of its ability to foreshadow a thunderstorm with downpour. But then, along the way, the dog disappeared somewhere...

To be honest, in general this version looks too abstractly bookish for the emergence of a phraseological turn popular among the people. And besides, there are minor stretches in it: dogs are not exactly wolves, it is not clear whether these types of dogs converged with these black cats in the myth itself or whether they had already been “crossed” for the purpose of explaining this idiom.

4. Ditches

This version is based on the fact that during the period when this idiom arose (approximately 16-17 centuries), the system of urban drains (sewage) in England was bad. In addition to sewage and garbage, the bodies of dead cats and dogs accumulated in the gutters and drainage pipes. And during heavy downpours, powerful streams of water carried it all out onto the flooded streets, thereby “raining” dogs and cats.

It is curious that the description of such a shower belongs to Jonathan Swift in his work “Description of a City Shower” (1710), in which dead puppies and cats, as well as stinking garbage, are floating: “Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud, Dead cats and turnip-tops come tumbling down the flood."

It is even more curious that Jonathan Swift is considered the author who first used this idiom in writing in the form that has come down to us. In the popular satirical work of those years, “Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation” (1738), which ridiculed the conversations of representatives of the nobility, there is the following phrase: “"I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs" (“I know Sir John will go there, although he had no doubt that there would be heavy rain”).

It is unknown whether Swift invented this phrase or used an already established expression, but it is very likely that he was the one who ensured its popularity. While other authors used not so successful phrases for the same designation of heavy rain, such as “it’s raining pitchforks” or “it’s raining stair-rods”.

I honestly admit that this version seems to me the most life-like, although not at all romantic. A formal objection could be that cats and dogs in it do not fall from the sky along with the rain. But to one degree or another, this applies to all versions considered, except for the sixth.

5. Greek-French “waterfall”

There is another rather sophisticated version of the origin of this phrase by consonance from the Greek word katadoupoi or from the French word catadupe (both meaning waterfall).

It is assumed that from learned people this word was uncritically transferred into everyday life, giving it both a new spelling and a new meaning that were understandable to ordinary people.

Of course, this version is linguistically interesting, but it looks more like a speculative puzzle than a living history of a living idiom. It is completely unclear who and why needed to turn the “waterfall” into a “cat-and-dog shower.” And why did this strange new formation have to take root in the English language?

6. Historical precedent

Finally, the last, most dubious version. What if there really was a case when cats and dogs fell from the sky along with the rain? For example, during a terrible storm or hurricane that previously lifted them into the sky?

What can I say? There is no recorded historical evidence of such an event. And it would be strange to expect that these creatures, which suddenly began to fly, gathered in large numbers for the flight, and then please their owners with a massive eruption from the sky.

Oddly enough, the very first recorded use of a phrase similar to the one we are considering refers precisely to this dubious version. The work of the British poet Henry Vaughan, published in the poetry collection Olor Iscanus, talks about the roof as protection from “dogs and cats rained in shower.” But what can you take from a poet?

A hypothetical possibility of actually seeing pets raining from the sky could be the Great Storm of 1703, which brought with it enormous destruction. Writer Daniel Defoe, following the fresh traces of this formidable natural phenomenon, wrote the novel “Storm”. I haven’t read it, but if there was something there on a topic that interests us, Wikipedia would not be able to remain silent.

So, there is no clear answer to the question about the origin of the idiom It's raining cats and dogs. And apparently it never will appear. There are only versions of varying degrees of plausibility.

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