pour down

USAGE SUMMARY

"pour down" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe heavy rain or other liquids falling in a steady stream from the sky or a container. Some examples are: - The rain continued to pour down, drenching everything in its path. - As soon as we opened the bottle, the water began to pour down onto the ground. - The tears started to pour down her cheeks as she read the heartbreaking letter. - The waterfall cascaded down the cliff, pouring down into the river below. In each of these examples, "pour down" is used to describe a continuous, heavy flow of liquid. It adds a sense of intensity and force to the sentence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When pouring into very narrow or small glasses, pour down the handle end of a bar spoon, as the ladle may not fit into the glass.

WikiHow

Rain began to pour down.

The New York Times

Sweat immediately began to pour down my body.

The New Yorker

It contains craggy hills, tropical evergreens and several rivers that pour down into peninsular India.

The New York Times - Travel

Tears fill his eyes, too, then pour down onto me, warm and fast.

The New Yorker

In Kent, the MeteoGroup reported that "heavy, localised rain" would pour down before spreading north.

Independent

At first, Groome and other residents watched water pour down the street.

The Washington Post

And the secret was something that cooks often pour down the drain.

The New York Times - Food

"Insults pour down on me like hail," he complained to Baudelaire.

The Guardian - Arts

As the rain continued to pour down, Norwich went on the offensive.

The Guardian - Sport

I was leaving my office in SoHo the evening of Aug. 1 when the rain began to pour down harder.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pour down" to vividly describe heavy rainfall or a substantial amount of liquid descending rapidly. It adds intensity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "pour down" to describe abstract concepts like information or emotions unless you intend to convey an overwhelming and somewhat forceful delivery. Choose more nuanced verbs like "stream", "flow", or "emerge" for subtler expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pour down" functions as an intransitive phrasal verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. It describes the action of something (usually a liquid) falling heavily and continuously. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples of its usage in sentences describing rainfall, tears, or other fluids.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "pour down" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe something falling heavily and continuously, especially liquids like rain or tears. Ludwig AI's analysis and examples show its frequent use across various contexts, from news reports to personal narratives. While its register is generally neutral, care should be taken to avoid misusing it in overly subtle or abstract figurative contexts. For a more vivid and impactful writing style, remember to reserve "pour down" for those situations that benefit from its association with abundance and force.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

teem down

An alternative way to describe heavy rainfall, synonymous with "pour down".

rain heavily

Focuses specifically on the intensity of rainfall.

stream down

Emphasizes the continuous flow of something downwards, not necessarily rain.

gush down

Implies a sudden and forceful outflow.

cascade down

Suggests a waterfall-like descent, often used for liquids or objects.

flood down

Suggests an overwhelming quantity descending.

descend rapidly

A more general term for something moving downwards quickly.

flow downwards

Highlights the direction of movement in a steady manner.

rush down

Conveys a sense of urgency and speed in the downward movement.

plummet down

Indicates a steep and fast drop, often used metaphorically.

FAQs

How can I use "pour down" in a sentence?

You can use "pour down" to describe heavy rain, as in "The rain began to pour down on them". It can also describe other liquids, like "Tears pour down her face".

What's a synonym for "pour down" when describing rain?

When referring to heavy rain, you can use "rain heavily" or "teem down" as synonyms for "pour down".

Is it correct to say "water pours down"?

Yes, it's perfectly correct. You can say "water pours down" or "water pours down from" to describe water descending in a continuous flow. For example, "Water pours down from the roof after a storm".

Can "pour down" be used metaphorically?

Yes, though use caution. While primarily used for liquids, "pour down" can be used metaphorically to describe something descending rapidly and copiously, but it should convey a sense of overwhelming force. In more subtle cases consider alternatives such as "flow downwards".