It never rains but it pours
People under umbrellas outside the Vatican in Rome. Photo: AFP/ Getty/ Filippo Monteforte
Today's Phrase
When someone says it never rains but it pours, they mean problems don't just happen occasionally - they happen all at the same time.
Examples:
We had nothing to do for weeks, then suddenly we have all this work to do: it never rains but it pours!
I missed my train this morning, lost my wallet and spilt coffee all over myself. It never rains but it pours.
Take note
If you pour cold water onsomeone's plans or ideas, you are criticising or being negative about them.
Example:
I wanted to walk up the mountain but Jane threw cold water on the idea. She insisted on taking the cable car.
Interesting fact
The village of Debundscha in the Republic of Cameroon is thought to be one of the wettest places on earth. Its location at the foot of Mount Cameroon, facing the South Atlantic Ocean, gives it a long rainy season and a very wet climate with about 10,300 millimetres of rainfall every year.