Useful English Word or Phrase to Boost Your English: Pissing it down

What does it mean?

It is an extreme, informal way of saying it is raining very heavily (a torrential downpour). It means the rain is coming down in huge amounts very quickly.

Is it positive or negative?

It is usually negative, as it expresses annoyance or disappointment about the bad weather.

When do you use it?

You use it when commenting on the weather and you want to strongly express that the rain is so heavy it's disrupting plans, making travel difficult, or simply making the day miserable. It is highly informal and common in the UK. (The word "piss" is vulgar, but this phrase is extremely common in everyday informal speech.)

Examples

Example 1: We had to cancel the picnic. It was absolutely pissing it down this afternoon.

Example 2: I need to leave now, but I don't have an umbrella. Look outside-it's pissing it down!

Question for you

What's the strongest phrase for heavy rain in your native language?

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