"It's raining cats and dogs" is one of those English phrases that makes perfect sense until you stop and think about it. Why cats? Why dogs? And why would either have anything to do with a downpour?

Chances are, most of us have at least once in our childhood sung the classic nursery rhyme "It's Raining, It's Pouring." But what many people don't know is that it has really dark and grim undertones.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Idioms are a fascinating aspect of language, reflecting cultural peculiarities and often involving hyperbole or humor to describe ...