What is the origin of the phrase “raining cats and dogs”?

• The phrase “raining cats and dogs” means heavy rain.

📜 History: There are several theories about this phrase’s origin:
– Old Norse Mythology: The Vikings believed in storms caused by cats (symbolizing wind) and dogs (symbolizing storms and rain).
– Medieval Streets Theory: In 17th-century England, poor drainage during storms could wash away dead animals, making it look like it had “rained” them.
– Jonathan Swift’s Satire (1710): The phrase appeared in his work A Complete Collection of Polite and Ingenious Conversation, suggesting it was already a known idiom by then.

🤔 Trivia: Similar phrases exist in other languages! In Spanish, they say “Llueve a cántaros” (“It’s raining jugs”), and in Afrikaans, they say “It rains old women with clubs”.