bucketing down

USAGE SUMMARY

"bucketing down" is not correct and usable in written English.
However, you could use the phrase "coming down in buckets" which means that it is raining very hard. Example sentence: It has been bucketing down for days, so I haven't been able to go outside.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

In the capital, Cayenne, it's bucketing down, pouring off the roofs in cascades and turning lawns into ankle-deep swamps.

The Guardian - Travel

Outside it's bucketing down with rain, but in half an hour a tent full of children will be going wild to this most charming team of rodents.

The Guardian - Music

It was a low-key session indoors, with rain bucketing down in Birmingham as Rogers received some throwdowns from Darren Lehmann.

The Guardian - Sport

It was still bucketing down, limiting visibility, but on a good day you get a cracking view out over Mottolino, Monopoly houses clustered into the nooks and crannies of the valley below.

Independent

It started to rain, bucketing down, the windscreen wipers going lickety-split, and he said, 'Do you ever think of killing yourself?' His voice was so casual, I was sure I'd misunderstood, like you just now.

The New Yorker

With rain bucketing down at the tete-de-la-course, Movistar rider Rui Costa, already a stage winner, zooms past Pierre Rolland and pedals into the distance, towards the summit of Col de la Croix Fry.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Rain bucketed down in freezing torrents.

The New York Times

It bucketed down all morning at Wimbledon.

The Guardian - Sport

I spent a contented winter's day there once while the rain bucketed down outside.

Independent

The rain at Abbey House bucketed down, lashed by a bitter wind.

The New York Times

ADAM GROSSMAN waited impatiently under a shelter at a highway rest stop while the rain bucketed down around him.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although "bucketing down" is a common idiom, consider using more grammatically correct alternatives like "coming down in buckets" to maintain a polished and professional tone in your writing.

Common error

While "bucketing down" is widely understood, relying on it exclusively can limit your expressive range. Explore alternatives such as "pouring rain" or "raining heavily" to enhance clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bucketing down" functions as an idiomatic expression describing heavy rainfall. Although widely used, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The phrase modifies a verb, emphasizing the intensity of the rain.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bucketing down" is a common idiom used to describe heavy rainfall. Despite its widespread use, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the adoption of alternatives like "coming down in buckets", "pouring rain", or "raining heavily" for increased precision and formality. While suitable for informal settings and news reports, more formal writing contexts benefit from grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

coming down in buckets

A more grammatically correct alternative idiom, emphasizing the sheer volume of rain.

raining heavily

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more straightforward description of intense rainfall.

pouring rain

Emphasizes the continuous and abundant nature of the rain.

pelting down

Highlights the force and intensity of the rain.

raining cats and dogs

Uses a different, but well-known idiom to describe very heavy rain.

teeming down

Indicates that the rain is falling in abundance.

deluging

Uses a more formal verb to describe a heavy downpour.

torrential rain

Focuses on the rain being like a torrent or flood.

downpouring

A direct verb describing the heavy and sudden onset of rain.

raining pitchforks

A less common, more exaggerated idiom for very heavy rain.

FAQs

What does "bucketing down" mean?

The phrase "bucketing down" is an informal idiom that means it's raining very heavily. It suggests the rain is falling as if someone is pouring buckets of water from the sky.

Is "bucketing down" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, "bucketing down" is grammatically incorrect, though it is a commonly used idiom. Consider using the phrase "coming down in buckets", which has a similar meaning but is grammatically correct.

What can I say instead of "bucketing down"?

You can use alternatives like "pouring rain", "raining heavily", or "coming down in buckets" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "bucketing down"?

While "bucketing down" is widely used and understood, it's best suited for informal contexts. In formal writing or professional settings, consider using more precise and grammatically correct alternatives to describe heavy rainfall.