skies pouring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skies pouring" can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a heavy rain storm, as in "The skies were pouring buckets as thunder crashed in the distance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Japan's ASCA X-ray satellite kept unique observations of the sky pouring in at X-ray wavelengths.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The weather over the parking lot looked exactly as it had for the last hour: a low, gray sky pouring steady rain, clouds sucked forward by a wind that would have been obscene anywhere else but in Oklahoma was just a stiff spring breeze.

The New York Times - Magazine

"This announcement has come as Sky is pouring money into other areas, for example original British drama.

BBC

Paper was pouring from the skies.

The New York Times

Redwings also travel by day and if you watch the skies, you'll see them pouring over in loose flocks, looking rather like starlings but with a much more clipped flight action.

BBC

Torrential rain began pouring from the sky.

The New Yorker

The cloud of pumice and ash blasted some 20 miles into the sky, then began to collapse, pouring down on surrounding fields and towns.

The Guardian

They seemed a lifeless component of the dismal landscape, whose sole kinetic element was the sheets of water pouring from the sky.

The New Yorker

"They seemed," he writes of the human morass at Calcutta's Sealdah station, "a lifeless component of this dismal landscape, whose sole kinetic element was the sheets of water pouring from the sky".

The Guardian - Books

And for her delightful Table of Feathers from 2007, she coated a tabletop with erect quills: as if flights of fancy were pouring from the sky and our only hope of capturing them was the written word.

The Guardian - Arts

The exit poll for the BBC, ITN and Sky, released before results started pouring in predicted a hung parliament, although the Tories would be on 316 seats – just ten short of a majority – with Labour winning 239 and the Lib Dems winning just ten.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skies pouring" to vividly describe heavy rainfall, especially when emphasizing the volume and intensity of the downpour. Consider using this phrase to create a sense of drama or foreboding in your writing.

Common error

While "skies pouring" is a vivid image, avoid overuse in a single piece of writing. Mix concrete descriptions of weather conditions with figurative expressions for balanced and effective storytelling.

Linguistic Context

"Skies pouring" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to vividly portray a scene of heavy rainfall. It provides a more evocative alternative to simply stating that it is raining hard, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. This is exemplified in various sources, highlighting its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "skies pouring" is a descriptive phrase used to create a vivid image of heavy rainfall. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although it is a relatively rare expression. It is typically found in news, media and encyclopedic sources and serves to emphasize the intensity and abundance of the rain. While "skies pouring" is acceptable, writers should consider the context and audience when choosing between this more evocative phrase and simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heavens shedding

Replaces "skies" with "heavens" and "pouring" with "shedding" for a more figurative, evocative tone.

sky unleashing

Replaces "pouring" with "unleashing", suggesting a more forceful and sudden release of rain.

the heavens opening up

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey the start of heavy rainfall.

the heavens weeping

Employs metaphorical language to describe heavy rain, personifying the sky.

sky overflowing

Suggests an abundance of rain coming from the sky, using the word "overflowing".

rain cascading from the sky

Focuses on the rain itself, describing it as a cascade from the sky.

downpour from above

Shifts the focus to the rain's intensity and origin.

sky discharging

Presents a more technical or neutral description of rain falling heavily.

the sky deluging

Uses "deluging" to emphasize the overwhelming nature of the rainfall.

rain gushing from the sky

Highlights the sudden and forceful flow of rain.

FAQs

How can I use "skies pouring" in a sentence?

You can use "skies pouring" to describe heavy rainfall, like in the sentence, "The "skies pouring" made it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead".

What's a less common way to describe heavy rain instead of "skies pouring"?

Instead of "skies pouring", consider alternatives such as "heavens shedding" or "sky unleashing" for a more evocative description.

Is it correct to say "the sky is pouring"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it is more common to use the plural "skies pouring" to emphasize the vastness of the rain coming from the sky.

What's the difference between "skies pouring" and "raining heavily"?

"Skies pouring" is a more figurative and descriptive way of saying "raining heavily". It emphasizes the image of the sky as a source of abundant rain.