Sometimes, the sky gets dark and rain starts to fall. Rain can be light like a sprinkle or strong like a storm. People talk about rain in many fun ways. They use special phrases to help explain how rain feels or what it does. These phrases are called idioms.
Idioms are sayings that don’t mean what they sound like. For example, “It’s raining cats and dogs” doesn’t mean animals are falling from the sky. It just means the rain is really heavy. Idioms make talking about rain more fun and easier to picture in our minds. In this lesson, we will learn many idioms people use when they talk about rain. They will help us understand and enjoy talking about weather in a new way.
Idioms for Rain
1. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very hard
To Provide an Example: It was raining cats and dogs, so we stayed inside. / We ran home because it was raining cats and dogs.
Alternative Meaning: Heavy rain / A big storm
2. Come rain or shine
Meaning: No matter what the weather is
To Provide an Example: We will have the picnic, come rain or shine. / I go to school, come rain or shine.
Alternative Meaning: No matter what happens / Always happening
3. Take a rain check
Meaning: Delay something for later
To Provide an Example: I can’t play today, can I take a rain check? / He took a rain check on going to the park.
Alternative Meaning: Do it later / Wait for another time
4. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick
To Provide an Example: I stayed home because I felt under the weather. / My brother is under the weather today.
Alternative Meaning: Not feeling well / A little sick
5. Save for a rainy day
Meaning: Save something for later when it might be needed
To Provide an Example: I put my money in a jar for a rainy day. / Mom saves snacks for a rainy day.
Alternative Meaning: Save for a bad time / Keep just in case
6. Rain on someone’s parade
Meaning: Ruin someone’s fun
To Provide an Example: Don’t rain on my parade just because I’m happy. / I didn’t mean to rain on her parade.
Alternative Meaning: Spoil someone’s good time / Say something that makes it less fun
7. Right as rain
Meaning: Feeling good or okay again
To Provide an Example: After resting, I felt right as rain. / The dog was right as rain after the vet visit.
Alternative Meaning: All better / Just fine
8. It never rains but it pours
Meaning: When one bad thing happens, more come
To Provide an Example: I lost my toy and then spilled juice—It never rains but it pours. / First the bus was late, then I forgot my homework.
Alternative Meaning: Lots of trouble at once / Bad luck keeps coming
9. Be soaked to the skin
Meaning: Very, very wet
To Provide an Example: I was soaked to the skin after walking in the rain. / He forgot his umbrella and got soaked to the skin.
Alternative Meaning: Dripping wet / Wet all over
10. Come out of the blue
Meaning: Something happened without warning
To Provide an Example: The rain came out of the blue. / His visit came out of the blue.
Alternative Meaning: A surprise / Suddenly happened
11. A storm is brewing
Meaning: Trouble is coming
To Provide an Example: The kids were yelling—a storm was brewing. / I could tell a storm was brewing when they argued.
Alternative Meaning: Something bad is about to happen / Trouble is near
12. Wait for the storm to pass
Meaning: Be patient during hard times
To Provide an Example: We just need to wait for the storm to pass. / It’s hard now, but the storm will pass.
Alternative Meaning: Things will get better / Be calm in hard times
13. Rain or shine
Meaning: Always happen, no matter what
To Provide an Example: We have recess rain or shine. / The walk is planned, rain or shine.
Alternative Meaning: Always / Doesn’t stop
14. Come down in buckets
Meaning: Raining very hard
To Provide an Example: It was coming down in buckets at lunchtime. / We stayed under the porch because it came down in buckets.
Alternative Meaning: Big rain / Heavy storm
15. Chasing rainbows
Meaning: Trying to get something that is not real
To Provide an Example: He keeps chasing rainbows with that broken toy. / I told her that was just chasing rainbows.
Alternative Meaning: Trying for something not possible / A big dream
16. Calm before the storm
Meaning: Quiet before something big or loud
To Provide an Example: The room was quiet—it was the calm before the storm. / We sat still before the game started, like the calm before the storm.
Alternative Meaning: Peace before excitement or trouble / Stillness before noise
17. Steal my thunder
Meaning: Take the attention from me
To Provide an Example: I was sharing my idea, but she stole my thunder. / He stole my thunder by finishing my story.
Alternative Meaning: Take my moment / Get all the attention
18. Catch a cold
Meaning: Get sick from cold weather
To Provide an Example: You’ll catch a cold playing in the rain. / She caught a cold after walking without a coat.
Alternative Meaning: Get sick / Not feel good
19. Like a rain cloud
Meaning: Someone who brings sadness
To Provide an Example: He was like a rain cloud today. / Don’t be a rain cloud when we’re having fun.
Alternative Meaning: A sad person / Brings down the mood
20. Throw cold water on
Meaning: Say something that makes others feel less excited
To Provide an Example: He threw cold water on our fun plans. / Don’t throw cold water on my idea.
Alternative Meaning: Stop the excitement / Make it less fun
21. Storm out
Meaning: Leave quickly because you are upset
To Provide an Example: She stormed out when she got mad. / He stormed out of the room during the fight.
Alternative Meaning: Leave in anger / Walk out fast
22. Come like a flash of lightning
Meaning: Happen very fast
To Provide an Example: The rain came like a flash of lightning. / The answer came to me like a flash of lightning.
Alternative Meaning: Really quick / Fast surprise
23. Full of hot air
Meaning: Saying things that are not true
To Provide an Example: He said he could fly, but he’s full of hot air. / That story is full of hot air.
Alternative Meaning: Not true / Silly talk
24. As quick as lightning
Meaning: Very fast
To Provide an Example: She ran inside as quick as lightning. / He grabbed his coat as quick as lightning.
Alternative Meaning: Super fast / In a flash
25. Face like thunder
Meaning: Looking very angry
To Provide an Example: Mom had a face like thunder when we spilled the paint. / He had a face like thunder after the game.
Alternative Meaning: Very mad / Angry face
26. Storm in a teacup
Meaning: A small problem made to look big
To Provide an Example: The argument was just a storm in a teacup. / It was a storm in a teacup over who got the red crayon.
Alternative Meaning: Small problem / Not a big deal
27. Cloud over
Meaning: To suddenly look sad
To Provide an Example: His face clouded over when he heard the news. / She clouded over after the toy broke.
Alternative Meaning: Turned sad / Looked unhappy
28. Get wind of
Meaning: Hear a secret
To Provide an Example: I got wind of the surprise party. / She got wind of the news before anyone else.
Alternative Meaning: Heard something / Found out
29. In a fog
Meaning: Feeling confused or slow
To Provide an Example: I was in a fog this morning. / He was in a fog after waking up late.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear / Feeling fuzzy
30. Blow hot and cold
Meaning: Change feelings often
To Provide an Example: He blows hot and cold about playing soccer. / She blew hot and cold about going outside.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t decide / Keeps changing
31. Break the ice
Meaning: Start talking to someone
To Provide an Example: I broke the ice with a joke. / We broke the ice by playing a game.
Alternative Meaning: Say hello / Start talking
32. Come down hard
Meaning: Rain a lot or be strict
To Provide an Example: The rain came down hard today. / The coach came down hard on being late.
Alternative Meaning: Strong rain / Be tough
33. Rain money
Meaning: Spend or get a lot of money
To Provide an Example: It rained money at the party. / He acted like it rained money.
Alternative Meaning: Lots of money / Spending big
34. A fair-weather friend
Meaning: Only there when things are good
To Provide an Example: He’s just a fair-weather friend. / She left when I needed help—a fair-weather friend.
Alternative Meaning: Not a true friend / Just around for fun
35. A face like a rainy day
Meaning: Looking very sad
To Provide an Example: She had a face like a rainy day. / He looked like a rainy day after losing the game.
Alternative Meaning: Sad face / Feeling down
36. Cloud nine
Meaning: Very happy
To Provide an Example: I was on cloud nine when I got my toy. / She’s on cloud nine after the trip.
Alternative Meaning: Super happy / So joyful
37. Head in the clouds
Meaning: Daydreaming
To Provide an Example: He had his head in the clouds during math. / I had my head in the clouds thinking of cake.
Alternative Meaning: Not paying attention / Daydreaming
38. Come like thunder
Meaning: Arrive suddenly and loudly
To Provide an Example: He came running like thunder. / The bus came like thunder.
Alternative Meaning: Loud and fast / Sudden arrival
39. Soak it up
Meaning: Enjoy it a lot or learn something
To Provide an Example: I soaked up the sun at the park. / She soaked up the story her teacher told.
Alternative Meaning: Take in / Enjoy or learn
40. Be in the dark
Meaning: Not knowing something
To Provide an Example: I was in the dark about the party. / He was in the dark about the homework.
Alternative Meaning: Didn’t know / A surprise
41. Dark clouds ahead
Meaning: Trouble is coming
To Provide an Example: I see dark clouds ahead with this plan. / There were dark clouds ahead after the fight.
Alternative Meaning: Bad things coming / Trouble on the way
42. Every cloud has a silver lining
Meaning: Good things can come from bad
To Provide an Example: I missed the bus, but got to play longer—every cloud has a silver lining. / It rained, but we played games inside.
Alternative Meaning: Look for the good / Bad can lead to good
43. Lightning never strikes twice
Meaning: A rare thing won’t happen again
To Provide an Example: Don’t worry—it won’t happen again. Lightning never strikes twice. / It was a one-time thing.
Alternative Meaning: Won’t happen again / Just once
44. Be a ray of sunshine
Meaning: Be very happy or kind
To Provide an Example: She’s a ray of sunshine in class. / He’s a ray of sunshine when I’m sad.
Alternative Meaning: Happy person / Makes others feel good
45. Flooded with work
Meaning: Have too much to do
To Provide an Example: I was flooded with work last night. / He felt flooded with chores.
Alternative Meaning: Too busy / Lots to do
46. Ride out the storm
Meaning: Get through a hard time
To Provide an Example: We just have to ride out the storm. / Let’s ride out the storm and wait.
Alternative Meaning: Be strong / Wait for it to pass
47. As clear as a bell
Meaning: Very easy to understand
To Provide an Example: The directions were as clear as a bell. / Her answer was clear as a bell.
Alternative Meaning: Easy to hear / Easy to get
48. Be snowed under
Meaning: Too much work or things to do
To Provide an Example: I’m snowed under with homework. / She’s snowed under with things to do.
Alternative Meaning: Very busy / Lots on your plate
49. Blow over
Meaning: A problem that goes away
To Provide an Example: The fight will blow over. / The storm will blow over soon.
Alternative Meaning: It will pass / It won’t last
50. Come rain and thunder
Meaning: Through any kind of trouble
To Provide an Example: We stayed friends through rain and thunder. / I’ll be there, come rain and thunder.
Alternative Meaning: Through anything / Always there
Trials for Success: Idioms for Rain
- We had to cancel the picnic because it was ________.
- I told my friend I’d join her game tomorrow and take a ________.
- After I rested, I felt ________ and ready to play.
- I saved my birthday money ________.
- It started to ________ at recess, so we ran inside.
- The loud thunder came ________, and we jumped.
- My sister ________ when she got mad at the game.
- My teacher says, “Do your best, ________.”
- When I saw my spilled juice and broken toy, I said, “________.”
- My shoes were ________ after I stepped in the puddle.
- I was so happy about my new puppy, I felt like I was on ________.
- We were all ________ after waking up late for school.
- The classroom was loud, then quiet—it was the ________.
- Even though I lost the race, Mom said, “________.”
- I didn’t want to ________ on his fun by saying the game was canceled.
Answer Key
- raining cats and dogs
- rain check
- right as rain
- for a rainy day
- come down in buckets
- like a flash of lightning
- stormed out
- come rain or shine
- it never rains but it pours
- soaked to the skin
- cloud nine
- in a fog
- calm before the storm
- every cloud has a silver lining
- rain on his parade
Conclusion
Rain can be soft or strong. It changes our day and how we feel. People use rain idioms to explain things better. They help us talk about feelings, surprises, or busy times.
These fun sayings make talking more clear and easy. Now you know what “raining cats and dogs” or “right as rain” really means. Try using one the next time it rains or when something feels just like a rainy day.
