Raining Cats and Dogs

It's raining cats a dogs! That's the best way to describe the recent wet weather that we've been experiencing. But where did the phrase "raining cats and dogs" come from?

Tahoe wants to know - what's the origin of "raining cats and dogs?"

According to a "reliable" source, "raining cats and dogs" is most likely a phrase that was coined during a time when England struggled with its poor sanitation:

"The... probable source of 'raining cats and dogs' is the prosaic fact that, in the filthy streets of 17th/18th century England, heavy rain would occasionally carry along dead animals and other debris. The animals didn't fall from the sky, but the sight of dead cats and dogs floating by in storms could well have caused the coining of this colourful phrase." (Source)

It's raining cats and dogs!

 
Yuck - I'm glad that I don't live in 17th century England.  I think I prefer my own literal interpretation of the phrase, as illustrated above.

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It's raining cats and dogs, make sure you don't step in the poodles.

~ happy leap day!