One of the most well-known idioms in English is “It’s raining cats and dogs.” This expression is used to describe a heavy rainstorm, but it has nothing to do with actual cats or dogs falling from the sky.
The origin of this expression is uncertain, but there are several theories. One theory is that the phrase comes from Norse mythology, where cats and dogs were associated with the storm god Odin. Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from old English, where “cat” meant “a nasty woman” and “dog” meant “a mean man.” So, “raining cats and dogs” would mean a storm of unpleasant people.
In French, the equivalent of “It’s raining cats and dogs” is “Il pleut des cordes,” which translates to “It’s raining ropes.” This expression is used to describe a very heavy rainstorm, much like the English idiom. The origin of this expression is also uncertain, but it is believed to come from the image of heavy raindrops falling in thick, straight lines like ropes.
