Peaceblinkfriend  +  368470 Mon, 21 May 07 03:33 PM Besides saying 'raining cats and dogs', are there any ways to say that it is raining heavily?  Thank you. Best wishes, Ernest Peaceblinkfriend Joined on Wed, May 9 2007 Senior Member 2,130 Success - it is not the position where you are standing, but which direction you are going.

	khoff  +  368476 Mon, 21 May 07 03:44 PM "It's pouring" is very common, but I've never heard "It's throwing it down."  (Maybe it's British?) khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,278 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

	Peaceblinkfriend  +  368482 Mon, 21 May 07 03:58 PM Thanks for replying to my post, Conchata57 and khoff. Firstly, is it common to use 'raining cats and dogs' in everyday communication? I mean does native speaker use them or it just appears in writings. Secondly, do you usually say 'it's pouring' or 'it's pouring down with rain' ? Thanks a lot again. Best wishes, Ernest Peaceblinkfriend

	nona the brit  +  368512 Mon, 21 May 07 04:35 PM raining cats and dogs - heard very rarely, usually if someone wants to make a joke about the weather. It's not the normal everyday way to say it is raining heavily. I'd normally say 'it's pouring down' or 'it's pouring out there' or 'it's pouring with rain here' or something similar. It's not that important which variation you use. 'Chucking it down' is another UK saying. If it is really really heavy rain we tend to add 'absolutely' in front of the sayings to add emphasis - it's absolutely pouring today! or it's absolutely chucking it down. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all. Jokes

	Tidus  +  368523 Mon, 21 May 07 05:02 PM More that I hear on ocassion: "The heavens opened" "It's lashing" "rain is bouncing off the ground" "It's pelting" "The rain's not taking its time" "It's like a monsoon out there" Tidus Joined on Mon, Nov 27 2006 England Full Member 372

	Peaceblinkfriend  +  369296 Wed, 23 May 07 12:30 PM Thanks for explaining it to me, Grammer Geek. Thank you for providing me the different ways to say that, Tidus. I appreciate your help. Best wishes, Ernest Peaceblinkfriend