Where did the expression "It's raining cats and dogs" originate?

Answer 1

From what I remember, it has to do with peasants possibly living in Medieval times. People would often have their animals, especially dogs and cats, bunk in the rafters near the ceiling of their hut.

When a thunderstorm would occur, the animals inside, especially the cats and dogs, would often jump down from the rafters due to the noise of the thunder.

I am in no way making this up; I recall listening to a radio program discuss this very question, and am only repeating what I heard to the best of my ability.

They were not joking; it was a serious discussion. If I am wrong, please forgive me, but this is what I heard. I hope it might help.

Answer 2

first appeared in 1738 in jonathan swifts work, but origin is unknown

one explanation is that it's a distortion of the old french word catadoupe, meaning waterfall

another theory, middle ages when cats and dogs left in the street were flushed away during heavy rains

Answer 3

I think it was in old London. When it would rain heavily he stray cats and dogs would drown. Then as the draines filled up they would float down the streats and it would look as if it had been "raining cats and dogs"

Answer 4

The storm sounds like the violent, cacaphonous noise of cats and dogs fighting.

Answer 5

back in the olden days when houses where roofed over with hay and straw, animals and insects would bed down in the rafters in the hay. when it would storm, sometimes the animals would loose their grip and fall down, thus the saying its raining cats and dogs.

Answer 6

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/raining%20cats%20and%20dogs.html

There are about six different "sources" or "origins." Most of them coming out of the 1500s or 1600s.