Idiomatic French Expression
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| Pleuvoir des cordes Artist: Paul Hallinan | |
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| Meaning | It’s pouring, It’s raining cats and dogs, It’s raining stair rods | |
| Literally | It’s raining ropes | |
| Register | informal | |
| Pronunciation |  |
[eel pleu day kuhrd] |
| IPA | [il plø de kɔrd] | |
Usage notes: The French expression il pleut des cordes is wonderfully vivid. When the rain is really coming down, it can almost seem like the drops are connected in long, twisty ropes reaching from sky to ground.
Par exemple…
| Je ne veux pas sortir – il pleut des cordes ! | I don’t want to go out – it’s pouring! | |
| Il pleuvait des cordes quand je suis parti ce matin. | It was raining cats and dogs when I left this morning. |
Variation: Il tombe des cordes
Synomyms
- Il pleut très fort
- Il pleut à flots / à seaux / à torrents / à verse
- Il pleut / tombe des hallebardes
- Il pleut comme vache qui pisse (familiar)
Au Québec
- Il pleut à boire debout
- Il pleut des clous
Related lessons
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