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What is the business about cats and dogs ?MUMU!
喜欢琥珀 发表于 2010-5-18 18:50 
In my opinion, thats described a heavy rain. The raindrop is big and fast, as you know cats and dogs they all fast.(of course some of them are big,,exp Yumao I think it may translate as catfish )
I just google the origin about this phrases. In the beginning, people uesed "to rain pitchforks","to rain shovels","darning needles","chicken coops","hammer handles" to described heavy rain.(darning needles is very humor, isnt it?) In 1652s, in someone used "It shall rain dogs and polecats" in his drama. then, 1738s, Swift an author say "I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would cats and dogs" in his book. Now , we use it .
and there has another saying, i think thats maybe the real reason. In <Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins>, they say "During heavy rains in 17th century England, some city streets became raging rivers of filth carrying many cats and dogs."
The third is: "In Norse mythology, the cat is supposed to have great influence on the weather. Witches that rode on storms were said to assume the form of cats. 'Dogs and wolves were attendants to Odin, the god of storms, and the dog' is a signal of wind." in <Dictionary of Phrase and Fable>.
I hope I can explain it clearly. and you can understand. Oh, damn english!! |
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发表于 2010-4-3 07:43
