Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > English Idioms and Sayings

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #91 (permalink)  
Old 10-Aug-2004, 12:26
yulia
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmo
Quote:
Originally Posted by green_summer
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
Never has it rained cats and dogs,
But sometimes it rains frogs.

:wink:
In China, we often use " rains cats and dogs " :) When I use this idiom first time, I felt it is very funny, how can the cats and dogs be rained?? *_*
From: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/298100.html

Meaning: Raining very heavily.

Origin: The phrase is supposed to have originated in england in the 17th century. City streets were then filthy and heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals. Richard Brome's The City Witt, 1652 has the line 'It shall rain dogs and polecats'. Also, cats and dogs both have ancient associations with bad weather. Witches were supposed to ride the wind during storms in the form of cats.

Hey, guys, I've got so much to learn here and I'm so glad that I had found this site. So much interesting stuff. Besides, when reading all this I feel how much I lack in English, and I feel that it's just so poor, at least in terms of idioms. :P
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #92 (permalink)  
Old 10-Aug-2004, 17:03
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,454
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 429 Times in 385 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default

The nearest to your whistling crayfish would be 'when pigs fly'. Welcome.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
most, popular, idioms, proverbs

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
English Idioms and Sayings RonBee English Idioms and Sayings 367 09-Nov-2007 04:00
idioms Anonymous Ask a Teacher 4 21-Aug-2007 12:35
why do we need to use idioms and proverbs Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 27-Jul-2004 13:56
idioms Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 08-Feb-2004 00:28
idioms Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 30-Sep-2003 15:59


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 00:37.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com