2rain verb
rains; rained; rain·ing 1 [no obj] — used with it to say that rain is falling ▪ Take an umbrella with you. It's raining. [=rain is falling from the sky] ▪ The weatherman said it will rain later this afternoon. ▪ It rained all day. ▪ It's raining (pretty) hard/heavily. [=there is a lot of rain falling] ▪ It's raining lightly. [=there is a small amount or rain falling] 2 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to fall from above in large amounts
▪ Ashes rained (down) from the volcano. ▪ Sparks from the fireworks rained on the field. 3 [+ obj] : to cause (something) to fall in large amounts
▪ The volcano rained ashes on the city. ▪ The boxers rained blows/punches on each other. [=the boxers hit each other many times]
▪ Ashes rained (down) from the volcano. ▪ Sparks from the fireworks rained on the field.
▪ The volcano rained ashes on the city. ▪ The boxers rained blows/punches on each other. [=the boxers hit each other many times]
be rained out (US) or Brit be rained off
: to be canceled because of rain
▪ Today's game was rained out and will be played tomorrow instead.
▪ Today's game was rained out and will be played tomorrow instead.
rain cats and dogs
informal : to rain very hard
rain on someone's parade
US, informal : to spoil someone's pleasure
▪ I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I have some bad news.
▪ I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I have some bad news.
when it rains, it pours (US) or chiefly Brit it never rains but it pours
informal — used to say that when something bad happens other bad things usually happen at the same time ▪ The team not only lost the game but three of its best players were injured. When it rains, it pours.
