Why do you say raining cats and dog?

Answer 1

well in the old days the roofs of houses were infististed with bugs and the birds will come to eat them witch will atract cats then follod dogs then when it started to rain the roof would become slipery the birds would fly away and the cats and dogs would full of the roof so there for it would be raining cats and dogs.......[:

Answer 2

Raining animals is a relatively rare meteorological phenomenon, although occurrences have been reported from many countries throughout history. One hypothesis that has been furthered to explain this phenomenon is that strong winds travelling over water sometimes pick up debris such as fish or frogs, and carry them for up to several miles. However, this primary aspect of the phenomenon has never been witnessed or scientifically tested. The phrase "raining cats and dogs" is of unknown etymology. A number of improbable folk etymologies have been put forward to explain the phrase, for example: In 16th century Europe when peasant homes were commonly thatched, the home was constructed in such a manner that animals could crawl into the thatch and find shelter from the elements, and would fall out during heavy rain.

Drainage systems on buildings in 17th century Europe were poor, and may have disgorged their contents during heavy showers, including the corpses of any animals that had accumulated in them. This occurrence is documented in Johnathan Swift's 1710 poem 'Description of a City Shower', in which he describes "Drowned puppies, stinking sprats, all drenched in mud,/Dead cats and turnip-tops come tumbling down the flood."

The Greek word Katadoupoi, referring to the waterfalls on the Nile, sounds similar to "cats and dogs"

The Greek phrase "kata doksa", which means "contrary to expectation" is often applied to heavy rain, but there is no evidence to support the theory that it was borrowed by English speakers.

Answer 3

The origin of the saying is unclear. The phrase first appears in its modern form in Jonathan Swift's A Complete Collection of Polite and Ingenious Conversation in 1738. Popular theories include that cats were at one time thought to have influence over storms, and that dogs were symbols of storms. So when some particularly violent tempest appeared, people suggested it was caused by cats (bringing the rain) and dogs (the wind).

Another theory says that in olden times, homes had thatched roofs on which domestic animals such as cats and dogs would like to hide. In heavy rain, the animals would either be washed out of the thatch, or rapidly abandon it for better shelter, so it would seem to be raining cats and dogs.

Answer 4

Since it was raining cats and dogs, we had to cancel our picnic.

Answer 5

You know it is raining cats and dogs when you step in a poodle.