Rain is something we all know. It can be soft like a light drizzle or loud like a thunderstorm. People talk about rain in many ways. But instead of saying “It rained a lot,” we sometimes use special phrases. These are called idioms. Idioms are fun and help us picture what the rain was like.
In this article, you will learn some common idioms for rain. These sayings make writing and speaking more colorful. They are also easy to use in stories, school work, or everyday talk. Whether it’s raining just a little or pouring hard, there’s an idiom for it. Let’s take a look at some of these phrases and what they really mean.
Idioms for Rain
1. It’s raining cats and dogs
Meaning: It is raining very heavily.
Samples: It’s raining cats and dogs outside, so don’t forget your umbrella. / We had to cancel recess because it was raining cats and dogs.
To Put it Another Way: It’s pouring rain. / The rain is coming down really hard.
2. Come rain or shine
Meaning: Something will happen no matter the weather or situation.
Samples: We’ll have the picnic come rain or shine. / He delivers newspapers every morning, come rain or shine.
To Put it Another Way: No matter what, it will happen. / Even if it rains, it won’t stop us.
3. Take a rain check
Meaning: To say no for now but maybe yes later.
Samples: I’ll take a rain check on the movie tonight. / She had to take a rain check on the playdate.
To Put it Another Way: I can’t do it now, maybe later. / Let’s do this another time.
4. Save it for a rainy day
Meaning: Keep something for a time when it’s needed, especially money or help.
Samples: I’m saving my birthday money for a rainy day. / We keep extra snacks for a rainy day.
To Put it Another Way: Keep it in case you need it later. / Use it when times are tough.
5. A rain on someone’s parade
Meaning: To spoil someone’s fun or good mood.
Samples: I don’t want to rain on your parade, but the trip got canceled. / He rained on my parade by pointing out the mistake.
To Put it Another Way: I spoiled the moment. / It ruined their good time.
6. Right as rain
Meaning: Feeling fine or perfect again.
Samples: After resting, I felt right as rain. / She was sick, but now she’s right as rain.
To Put it Another Way: I feel good now. / Everything is fine.
7. Be soaked to the bone
Meaning: To be extremely wet.
Samples: After walking in the storm, I was soaked to the bone. / He forgot his coat and got soaked to the bone.
To Put it Another Way: I was very wet. / My clothes were dripping.
8. Rain or shine
Meaning: Whether it is good or bad weather.
Samples: The carnival will happen, rain or shine. / We run every morning, rain or shine.
To Put it Another Way: No matter the weather, we’ll do it. / It doesn’t matter if it rains.
9. Come in out of the rain
Meaning: Stop doing something silly or foolish.
Samples: Stop worrying so much—come in out of the rain. / He keeps yelling at the TV, someone tell him to come in out of the rain.
To Put it Another Way: Be reasonable. / Stop doing silly things.
10. When it rains, it pours
Meaning: Problems come all at once.
Samples: First I lost my homework, then I missed the bus—when it rains, it pours! / She got hurt and caught a cold on the same day.
To Put it Another Way: A lot of bad things happened at once. / Everything went wrong together.
11. As right as rain
Meaning: Completely well or correct.
Samples: Don’t worry, your answer is as right as rain. / I was tired yesterday, but today I feel as right as rain.
To Put it Another Way: It’s completely fine. / I feel great now.
12. Rain down
Meaning: To fall heavily, like rain.
Samples: The confetti rained down during the celebration. / Cheers rained down from the crowd.
To Put it Another Way: It came down quickly. / A lot came at once.
13. A rainy day fund
Meaning: Money saved for a time of need.
Samples: I keep my allowance in a rainy day fund. / They have a rainy day fund in case of car trouble.
To Put it Another Way: Money saved for emergencies. / I’ll use it only when needed.
14. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or not well.
Samples: I didn’t go to school because I was under the weather. / She looked under the weather at lunch.
To Put it Another Way: I felt sick. / Not feeling my best.
15. Chasing rainbows
Meaning: Trying to do something impossible.
Samples: He’s chasing rainbows if he thinks he can finish in five minutes. / Don’t waste your time chasing rainbows.
To Put it Another Way: That goal is too hard. / It’s not going to happen.
16. Rain on the horizon
Meaning: Trouble may be coming.
Samples: With those dark clouds, I see rain on the horizon. / There’s rain on the horizon with those test scores.
To Put it Another Way: Something bad might happen soon. / Trouble is coming.
17. Wait for the storm to pass
Meaning: Stay calm and let a problem end.
Samples: Let’s wait for the storm to pass before we make plans. / She stayed quiet, waiting for the storm to pass.
To Put it Another Way: Be patient until things get better. / Don’t act until the trouble is gone.
18. Pouring it on thick
Meaning: Exaggerating or being too dramatic.
Samples: He was pouring it on thick to get out of doing chores. / She poured it on thick with her story about being tired.
To Put it Another Way: He made it sound worse than it was. / She was being too dramatic.
19. Make it rain
Meaning: To give or spend a lot of something.
Samples: He made it rain candy at the party. / The coach made it rain praise after the win.
To Put it Another Way: He gave a lot. / She shared freely.
20. Cloud over
Meaning: To suddenly look sad or upset.
Samples: His face clouded over when he heard the bad news. / She clouded over when she lost her toy.
To Put it Another Way: She looked sad suddenly. / His mood changed fast.
21. A storm is brewing
Meaning: Something bad is about to happen.
Samples: I think a storm is brewing between them. / You could tell by her face that a storm was brewing.
To Put it Another Way: Something bad might happen soon. / Trouble is coming.
22. Raining buckets
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
Samples: It was raining buckets during our soccer game. / Don’t forget your boots—it’s raining buckets outside.
To Put it Another Way: The rain was super strong. / It’s coming down hard.
23. A ray of sunshine
Meaning: A person or thing that brings happiness.
Samples: My little sister is a ray of sunshine on rainy days. / His smile is a ray of sunshine.
To Put it Another Way: She makes everyone happy. / He brings joy.
24. Storm out
Meaning: To leave angrily.
Samples: She stormed out after the argument. / He stormed out when he lost the game.
To Put it Another Way: He left in anger. / She was too upset to stay.
25. Rain-soaked
Meaning: Very wet from the rain.
Samples: We came back rain-soaked after walking home. / My backpack got rain-soaked during the storm.
To Put it Another Way: Everything was wet. / We were soaked with water.
26. After the rain comes the rainbow
Meaning: Good things follow bad times.
Samples: She told me that after the rain comes the rainbow. / Don’t worry—after the rain comes the rainbow.
To Put it Another Way: Things will get better. / Sad times don’t last.
27. A face like thunder
Meaning: Looking very angry.
Samples: He had a face like thunder when he saw the mess. / She came in with a face like thunder.
To Put it Another Way: He looked really mad. / She was angry without speaking.
28. A rainy spell
Meaning: A few days of rain or gloomy mood.
Samples: We’re having a rainy spell this week. / She’s in a bit of a rainy spell lately.
To Put it Another Way: It’s been raining a lot. / She’s feeling low.
29. Lightning never strikes twice
Meaning: Something bad won’t happen again in the same way.
Samples: Don’t worry about another bad test—lightning never strikes twice. / He said lightning never strikes twice after the power went out again.
To Put it Another Way: That kind of trouble won’t happen again. / It’s unlikely to repeat.
30. Get caught in the rain
Meaning: To be surprised or unprepared.
Samples: I got caught in the rain without my jacket. / We got caught in the rain during the walk home.
To Put it Another Way: I wasn’t ready for what happened. / The rain surprised us.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Rain
Reading Passage: “Recess Surprise”
It was a normal school day, but dark clouds started to gather just before recess. Ms. Bell looked out the window and said, “Looks like it’s going to rain cats and dogs!” Still, she let the class go outside for a few minutes.
As soon as Jayden stepped onto the playground, it started raining buckets. “We’re getting soaked to the bone!” yelled Mia as they ran under the big tree. “I should’ve saved this dry sweatshirt for a rainy day,” said Lucas, trying to stay dry.
Just then, thunder rumbled. “A storm is brewing,” said Ms. Bell, waving everyone back inside. Jayden, who was hoping to play tag, frowned with a face like thunder.
Back in the classroom, their teacher tried to cheer them up. “Come on,” she said, “after the rain comes the rainbow.” The kids smiled and began working on a puzzle together. When the bell rang, Mia laughed and said, “Well, I guess it’s true—come rain or shine, we always find fun.”
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for rain you found in the passage.
Answer Key
- Raining cats and dogs
- Raining buckets
- Soaked to the bone
- Save it for a rainy day
- A storm is brewing
- Face like thunder
- After the rain comes the rainbow
- Come rain or shine
Conclusion
Idioms help us say things in a more fun and colorful way. Rain idioms can show how hard it rains, how we feel, or how we deal with surprises. They make speaking and writing more interesting.
The next time it rains or you feel down, think about these idioms. Whether it’s “raining cats and dogs” or you need to “save it for a rainy day,” you’ll have just the right words to say.
