English idiom

when it rains it pours

Register · Informal CEFR C1

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Figurative meaning

when problems come, they come all at once

Why this phrase?

Ordinary rain intensifying into a downpour represents difficulties arriving heavily and all at once.

Example

“First the server died, then the payment provider — when it rains it pours.”

Dictionary details

Component words

rain

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

rain cats and dogs

to rain very heavily

take a rain check

to politely decline an invitation with the promise to accept later

perfect storm

a rare combination of bad circumstances that produces a disaster

can of worms

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

get out of hand

To become impossible to control.

a hot potato

A controversial or awkward issue that no one wants to deal with.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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