it's pouring

USAGE SUMMARY

"it's pouring" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when it is raining heavily. For example, "When I woke up this morning, it's pouring outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

As for the weather, well it is raining, it's pouring and it looks colder than a polar bear's privates out there.

The Guardian - Sport

It's pouring rain by the time the buses arrive at the second McDonald's location in west suburban Cicero, outside of Chicago.

The Guardian

It's pouring more resources into building out the Facebook Camera platform that copies Snap's camera.

TechCrunch

"It's pouring".

The New York Times

It's pouring rain.

The Economist

Outside, it's pouring.

The New York Times

It's pouring down now.

The Guardian - Sport

LUNCH 1.07pm It's pouring down.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's pouring out here," he said.

The New Yorker

"It's pouring money down a hole".

The New York Times

In Indianapolis, if it's raining, it's pouring on the Colts.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's pouring" to vividly describe a scene with heavy rain, but be mindful of your audience. While commonly understood, consider more formal alternatives in academic or professional writing.

Common error

Avoid confusing "it's pouring" with similar sounding phrases like "it's pawing" or "it's boring". Always double-check your writing to ensure you've used the correct phrase for the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's pouring" primarily functions as a declarative statement, vividly describing heavy rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. The verb "pouring" here acts intransitively, indicating the action of heavy rain.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it's pouring" is a common and correct way to describe heavy rainfall. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically sound and widely used, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "heavy rainfall". Remember to use the phrase accurately to avoid confusion with similar sounding words. With numerous real-world examples, Ludwig reinforces the phrase's everyday applicability and provides valuable context for writers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is raining heavily

This alternative is a more formal and direct way of describing heavy rainfall.

it's coming down hard

This alternative is more concise and focuses on the intensity of the rain.

it's raining cats and dogs

This alternative uses an idiom to describe very heavy rain.

it's pelting down

This alternative emphasizes the force with which the rain is falling.

rain is coming down in sheets

This alternative emphasizes the visual aspect of the rain.

it's bucketing down

This alternative is a colloquial expression for heavy rain.

it's teeming

This alternative is a concise way of saying that it is raining heavily.

the heavens are open

This alternative uses a metaphorical and dramatic way to describe heavy rain.

the rain is unrelenting

This alternative focuses on the continuous nature of the heavy rain.

the sky is falling

This alternative uses hyperbole to describe very intense rainfall or a metaphorical disaster.

FAQs

What does "it's pouring" mean?

"It's pouring" means it is raining very heavily.

What can I say instead of "it's pouring"?

You can use alternatives like "it is raining heavily", "it's raining cats and dogs", or "the heavens are open" depending on the context.

Is "it's pouring" appropriate for formal writing?

While widely understood, "it's pouring" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. Consider using more formal phrases like "heavy rainfall" or "torrential rain" in academic or professional writing.

Can "it's pouring" be used metaphorically?

Yes, "it's pouring" can be used metaphorically to describe an abundance of something, as in "It's pouring money into the project".