bitter rain

USAGE SUMMARY

'bitter rain' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to evoke the idea of something unpleasant that is raining down from the sky. For example: "The people of the city felt the bitter rain wash all their hopes away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And this: "A bitter rain came down for days on end, as if the gods knew my sorrow".

The Guardian - Books

All the hopes of Murrayfield had been washed away by a cold, bitter rain that fell all day and by France, who were doing nothing more invigorating than playing less badly than their opponents.

The Guardian - Sport

Standing in a bitter rain outside the court alongside key aides from his political bloc, the younger Hariri, who has remained in exile since being ousted in a political push led by Hezbollah three years ago, said: "We were certainly appalled to have a Lebanese group accused in this crime, based on evidence and extensive investigations.

The Guardian

Where LGBTQ people are concerned, ENDA is a bus that passes you by in the bitter rain.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Though the Timbers pushed their guests Real Salt Lake in what was at times a bitter, rain-sodden match, in-form keeper Nick Rimando somehow kept out Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe to hand Portland their first scoreless result since July 13th.

The Guardian - Sport

Although he electrified the news media and embarrassed the government by closing down the center of the capital for four days, his promises of a "million-man march" did not materialize, and the much smaller group that followed him was drenched by bitter rains that lashed the capital on Thursday.

The New York Times

Sourwood, bitter gourd, rain forest, and gelam honeys were also well discriminated from the other types of honey indicating their marked differences in the geographical and botanical (floral) origin.

BioMed Research International

When winds grow bitter and rains angry, Even small birds are frightened and sad.

Huffington Post

A combination of heavy rain, bitter storms, and coastal surges.

The Guardian

If the families with babies and young children sleeping in the bus shelters of the city's symbolic squares, including Place de la République and Place de la Bastille, come rain, bitter cold or shine, generate some public sympathy, the perception of other groups is less positive.

The Guardian

In heavy rain and bitter cold, 29 crews took the last remaining berths for the Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bitter rain" to create a vivid image of unpleasant weather or to symbolize emotional hardship in literary or descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "bitter rain" in everyday conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic or pretentious. Opt for simpler descriptions like "heavy rain" or "cold rain" in such scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bitter rain" functions primarily as a descriptive element, painting a vivid picture of unpleasant weather or symbolizing emotional distress. The adjective "bitter" modifies the noun "rain", imbuing it with a sense of harshness and negativity, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bitter rain" is a grammatically sound phrase used to depict unpleasant weather or symbolize emotional hardship. Although it's not a common expression, Ludwig highlights that it's perfectly usable and evokes a strong emotional response. It is more frequently seen in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts and can add a vivid, albeit dramatic, touch to descriptive or literary writing. Consider similar phrases like "harsh rainfall" or "miserable rain" depending on your intended effect. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harsh rainfall

Replaces "bitter" with "harsh", emphasizing the severity of the rain.

acrid rain

Substitutes "bitter" with "acrid", highlighting the unpleasant or stinging quality of the rain.

cold, biting rain

Emphasizes the cold and sharp nature of the rain.

unpleasant downpour

Replaces "rain" with "downpour" and "bitter" with "unpleasant", focusing on the negative experience of heavy rain.

miserable rain

Replaces "bitter" with "miserable", highlighting the feeling of sadness or discomfort caused by the rain.

dreary rain

Focuses on the dull and depressing aspect of the rain, similar to its emotional impact.

relentless rain

Highlights the persistent and unyielding nature of the rain, suggesting an oppressive quality.

sorrowful rain

Connects the rain directly with sadness and grief.

agonizing rain

Highlights the painful or distressing nature associated with the rain.

desolate rain

Implies that the rain brings feelings of loneliness and abandonment.

FAQs

How can I use "bitter rain" in a sentence?

"Bitter rain" is often used metaphorically to describe a period of hardship or sorrow. For example, "A "bitter rain" of criticism followed the announcement."

What feeling does "bitter rain" typically evoke?

The phrase "bitter rain" typically evokes feelings of sadness, hardship, and unpleasantness. It combines the physical discomfort of rain with the emotional sting of bitterness.

What can I say instead of "bitter rain"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "harsh rainfall", "acrid rain", or "miserable rain" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "bitter rain" a common expression?

No, "bitter rain" is not a very common expression. It is more frequently found in literary or descriptive writing than in everyday conversation.