10Likes -
Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?
Hi,
They say "when it rains, it pours" it gives a negative meaning.
It is like "saying "misfortunes never come alone".
Is there a positive equivalent to that? To indicate the one incident of good luck, is bringing more?
Thanks.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?

Originally Posted by
Ducklet Cat
Hi,
They say "when it rains, it pours" it gives a negative meaning.
It is like "saying "misfortunes never come alone". We also say, 'Bad things come in threes.'
Is there a positive equivalent to that? To indicate the one incident of good luck, is bringing more?
The phrase 'When it rains it pours' is not only for negative things. It can be used for positive things too. Mostly we (NA) wouldn't comment too much on the beginnings of good luck for fear of 'jinxing' it, but we might say:
I'm must be on a lucky (or hot) streak.
My ship has come in.
Knock on wood.
Looks like my prayers have been answered.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?
"Good things come in threes" is the closest thing that occurs to me. I disagree with the above poster, I think that "when it rains, it pours" is almost exclusively used for negative things. I can't think of a single sentence in which it would sound natural referring to positive events.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?

Originally Posted by
J&K Tutoring
The phrase 'When it rains it pours' is not only for negative things. It can be used for positive things too. Mostly we (NA) wouldn't comment too much on the beginnings of good luck for fear of 'jinxing' it, but we might say:
I'm must be on a lucky (or hot) streak.
My ship has come in.
Knock on wood.
Looks like my prayers have been answered.
That was useful, thanks. :)
But I checked several sites, and none of which confirms that it could be used for positive meaning.
This interesting! We do have a lot in common in our cultures.
Some people avoid talking about good events, because they are afraid of the "evil eye". I did not know that people in the West share this too.
And we have a proverb in Arabic that says "Althaltha thabta" which means means that "third one is a fixed one", so if you fail 2 times, you will make it on the third time.
Thanks you J&K Tutoring.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?

Originally Posted by
Tullia
"Good things come in threes" is the closest thing that occurs to me. I disagree with the above poster, I think that "when it rains, it pours" is almost exclusively used for negative things. I can't think of a single sentence in which it would sound natural referring to positive events.
Thank you Tullia.
You know what, I've always had the impression that in the West rain is not welcome, so it would be shocking to use it for a positive meaning.
Does anyone have any provers or idioms that show how people fidget about rain and express their dislike of it?
Thanks :)
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?

Originally Posted by
Tullia
"Good things come in threes" is the closest thing that occurs to me. I disagree with the above poster, I think that "when it rains, it pours" is almost exclusively used for negative things. I can't think of a single sentence in which it would sound natural referring to positive events.
I agree with this, "when it rains it pours" is never used positively.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?

Originally Posted by
Ducklet Cat
Thank you Tullia.
You know what, I've always had the impression that in the West rain is not welcome, so it would be shocking to use it for a positive meaning.
Does anyone have any provers or idioms that show how people fidget about rain and express their dislike of it?
Thanks :)
Well I live in Manchester and we hate the rain, but get a lot of it.
I'm not sure about proverbs, but I certainly think that the (vulgar) expression "it's pissing it down" which we use to refer to heavy rain probably tells you how we feel about it, since urine isn't usually considered the most desirable of substances to get covered in!
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?
Actually, in basketball, people say it is raining when somebody is scoring a lot of points, typically through shooting. I've heard many people say " I make it rain," then say "When it rains, it pours," to brag about their hot hands or shooting streak.
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?
In my 'defense' I'll say that I was thinking about too much of a good thing. So, would you consider that as positive or negative? Is the glass half full or half empty?
-
Re: Opposite of "when it rains, it pours"?
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Similar Threads
-
By jcw1003 in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 11
Last Post: 10-Jul-2009, 10:14
-
By bluepinky in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 2
Last Post: 20-Jun-2009, 22:49
-
By jirikoo in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 3
Last Post: 04-Sep-2008, 03:20
-
By blacknomi in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 11
Last Post: 25-Jun-2004, 00:15
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules

Search Engine Optimization by
vBSEO 3.6.1