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Have you ever said something the same way for years, but never thought twice about it?
Maybe you’d start to think about it if a loved one brought it to your attention after YEARS of being together.
Recently, while it was raining, Derek mentioned that I say, “It’s pouring THE rain.”
My response was, “Well, it’s not pouring the milk.”
He responded, “That’s not how you say it.”
“Say what?” I asked.
“Pouring the rain. It’s pouring rain or pouring down rain. There is no THE,” he answered.
Suddenly, I became quite aware of the phase, “pouring the rain.”
My mother said it.
My aunt said it.
One day, my co-worker said it.
Then recently, when we had our air conditioning unit serviced, the technician said it!
What do we all have in common?
We’re all from West Virginia!
After conducting a little research, I discovered that “pouring the rain” is one of many West Virginia colloquialisms. So, I suppose I get a pass. And yes, I do refer to a shopping cart as a buggy.
What about you? Do you use any area specific colloquialisms?
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My name is Jill Weatherholt and I’m a writer. I have a full-time job, but at night and on the weekend, I pursue my passion, writing. I write contemporary stories about love, friendship and forgiveness.
I started this blog as a way to share my journey toward publication and to create a community for other new writers and artists.
Raised in the Washington, DC area, I’ve lived in Charlotte, North Carolina since 2004. I hold a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and a Certification in Paralegal Studies from Duke University.
I write stories filled with love, faith and happy endings for Harlequin Love Inspired. What can I say...I love happy endings.
My sixth book Searching for Home will be in stores December 28, 2021, details can be found at JillWeatherholt.com.
I've sold seven sweet romance stories to Woman's World Magazine.
I was the first place winner in the Dream Quest One Short Story Contest in the Winter 2014-2015 competition. In 2014, I placed second in Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest. I was also a top ten finalist in Southern Writers Magazine Short Story Contest in 2012 and 2013. I’m a 2010, 2012 and 2016 winner of the National Novel Writing Month Contest.
I love to connect with readers. Visit me at jillweatherholt.com and sign-up for my newsletter. Follow me on Amazon.com and Bookbub.com.
Jill Weatherholt 
May 14, 2019 at 3:40 pm
Huh… That’s truly interesting to me, Jill. I have never heard “pouring the rain,” but I’ve never lived in West Virginia. I always wondered about what I think of as the other half of old sayings. “A stitch in time saves nine.” No one would ever answer my question, “Nine what?” I answered it myself when mending a hole that I should have sewn before washing… “Til the cows come home” — where did they go? For heaven’s sake, they’re cows! LOL.
I say buggy too though. 😀 Hugs.
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May 14, 2019 at 6:15 pm
LOL! Your comments always make me laugh, Teagan. Now you have me wondering where did those cows go! Thanks for the laughs…I needed them today! ❤
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May 14, 2019 at 6:52 pm
I’d never heard “pouring down the rain.” Funny! Being raised in Kansas, I say “catty corner” which my husband finds unusual. Colloquiums are always interesting to me. FYI: We saw our first hummingbird today!
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May 15, 2019 at 5:02 pm
I guess a lot of people have never heard “pouring down the rain,” Sherida! 🙂 I say “catty corner” too. Yay! I’m so happy you saw your first hummingbird. Our activity should pick up this weekend since we’re going to get some hot weather. Thanks for stopping by. I hope your foot is almost back to normal. ❤
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May 16, 2019 at 4:26 pm
I’ve never heard anyone in the UK saying ‘pouring the rain’, Jill. Most people here say ‘it’s pouring down’ or just ‘it’s pouring’. Another phrase used in the north east of England for heavy rain is, ‘it’s siling down’. My husband’s from that area and often uses the phrase. I’ve even heard people saying ‘it’s chucking it down!’
As for shopping cart or buggy the usual name for those here is a shopping trolley.
An interesting post, Jill! ❤
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May 16, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Hi Millie! I guess “pouring the rain” hasn’t made it across the pond. 🙂 I like, “it’s chucking it down!” That’s certainly unusual. I love “shopping trolley.” Our neighbor is from England and he calls a golf cart a “trolley.” Thanks for stopping over. It’s always great to see you. ❤
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May 17, 2019 at 12:43 am
I’m way behind here, Jill. Had this open on another computer and didn’t get back to it as I had no internet last few days. Love reading about this and will have to give it more thought. Have never heard of pouring the rain but an acquaintance from Ohio always said she was combing her hairs. not hair. It fascinated me. We lived in the deI ep south for many years and I tend to speak the way locals do to some degree while maintaining my universal English at other times. So much has left my memory of those years but something will trigger it sometime and I’ll let you know. Catty corner was common most places. You have my mind going now searching for that trigger to the vault of words. Thanks for this fun post. Hugs.
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May 18, 2019 at 7:23 am
No worries, Marlene. You’re welcome anytime. Sorry to hear about the internet issues. Lately, we’ve had some connectivity issues as well. It’s frustrating, but then you think, once upon a time we lived without internet. That’s so funny about your friend from Ohio. Someone I knew said the same thing. I’m glad I got your mind going. Thanks for stopping over. It’s always nice to read your comment. I hope you and the family are all doing well. Enjoy your weekend! xo
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May 18, 2019 at 4:42 pm
This was great Jill- I have never heard that expression before but it kind of says what’s doing. Expressions that I can recall: upstate NY they use the phrase “you guys”, in Pittsburgh they say “yins” , and in Texas they say y’all.
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May 19, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Hi Mary! Yes, that’s what I thought…LOL! I’ve never heard of “yins.” Thanks for sharing these with us. I hope you’re continue to make progress with your recovery. Chat with you soon! xo
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May 19, 2019 at 7:30 am
That is interesting, Jill. I would not include the “the” in that phrase either. We have lots of interesting says and colloquialisms in South Africa, coming from both Afrikaans and African languages. We say “I’m coming now-now” and Eich when things don’t work out as they should.
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May 19, 2019 at 7:13 pm
I think most people wouldn’t include “the” in that phase, Robbie…unless they’re from West Virginia, of course. Thanks so much for sharing these sayings with us. I like “Eich.” I might have to give that a try. I appreciate your visit.
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May 23, 2019 at 5:01 am
I’ve never heard the expression “it’s pouring the rain.” But I’ve never spent time in West Virginia. Can’t wait until I do. If it rains, you know what I’m going to say! When I lived in CA my friends laughed at me when I said, “It’s spitting out.” WHAT? They’d asked. But where I grew up, in NJ, if it was raining really lightly, almost more like a misting, we called it “spitting out.” I’ve noticed that some of my friends have picked up the colloquialism over the years. 🙂
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May 23, 2019 at 6:43 pm
Hi Pam! Since writing this post, I’ve tried to get say, “It’s pouring,” but it doesn’t sound right. I’ve heard people say “it’s spitting out” when they’re referring to snow, but not rain. Thanks for sharing! I hope you’re feeling better. xo
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May 24, 2019 at 6:02 am
I say to you – don’t change the way you speak nor your expressions. They’re what makes you YOU – and that’s a wonderful thing. ❤
(Achoo – still sneezing away ;-0 ) xo
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May 26, 2019 at 8:15 pm
Okay, Pam! Actually, today I said, “pouring the rain.” Feel better! xo
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May 24, 2019 at 8:53 am
I love this! And it makes me wonder who first said it and why. I mean: it could have been pouring the cats and dogs. Or the snow. Or the sleet. But it poured the rain. Yes indeed. Well said, Jill!
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May 26, 2019 at 8:16 pm
LOL! Thanks, Cynthia! You’re right, it could be pouring many things. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’re doing well.
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May 25, 2019 at 9:52 am
This is the first time I’ve heard of ‘pouring the rain’ 😀 If you say it and others do, then you do. Here in Australia we have our own colloquialisms and tend to shorten quite a few words. For instance we say ‘arvo’ for afternoon’ and ‘devo’ for devastated. Not every tourist get these sayings 😀
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May 26, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Thank you for sharing your saying with us, Mabel. I like “arvo” but you’re right, I would be a little confused. 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by.
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May 25, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Nice to meet another kindred spirit, Jill. My blog explores the creative life and everything writing. As far as colloquialisms, I grew up in the Midwest. We say: “I want to sleep in” and “Are you coming with?”
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May 26, 2019 at 8:20 pm
It’s great to meet you, Evelyn. Every day I say, “I want to sleep in” but it never happens. 🙂 I like “coming with.” Thanks for sharing with us!
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May 30, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Evelyn – thanks – I was stumped and your “sleep in” reminded me my dad used to say “hit the sack”
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May 30, 2019 at 6:07 pm
Or as said in WV, “hit the hay.” 🙂
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May 30, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Love that – – and I will be getting some shut eye in a little bit
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June 1, 2019 at 6:27 am
🙂
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May 28, 2019 at 11:38 am
I think that the whole subject of colloquialisms, regional accents etc. is fascinating. With everyone’s increasing ease of access to the world over the last 70 years you’d think we’d all be speaking exactly the same by now. Far from it – the variations seem as plentiful as ever.
One example of many – after 45 years away I might still occasionally lapse into the Birmingham, England phrase ‘All around the Wrekin’ as a way of saying ‘The long way around’. And even in a small country like England it can often be difficult to follow the chat of lads over a few beers in a strange town.
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May 30, 2019 at 6:12 pm
I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. We should be sounding more alike.
I confess, I Googled “Wrekin”. That’s a perfect saying for “the only way around”. Thanks for sharing this, Roy. Derek was born in Devon and he’s mentioned the pub chatter as well.
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May 30, 2019 at 4:29 pm
Hi Jill – do they have electricity yet in West Virginia? kidding!
never heard pouring the rain – but how cool to have that connection to home.
in the buffalo NY area they say “you’s guys” and I kinda hate it – and my grandmother (mom’s side) said “warsh” for wash – and I hear some Virginia folks say it – I also kinda hate it. Sorry if I sound like Negative Nelly – hmmmm
let me think of one I like –
my dad comes to mind – with a smile (and thanks to Evelyn’s comment above I thought of this)
he would say “hit the sack” for go to bed
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May 30, 2019 at 6:16 pm
LOL! Trust me Yvette, I’ve heard every WV joke out there! I’m not a fan of “you’s guys” either, unless I’m watching Good Fellas. Yep, you hear “warsh” in both WV and VA. I like your dad’s saying. Thanks for sharing!
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May 30, 2019 at 7:36 pm
My dad also said “when your number is up – Your number is up”
And side note on West Virginia – it truly is one of the most beautiful States in the country! Goodness do I love driving thru it sometimes
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June 1, 2019 at 6:26 am
LOL! I’ve heard your dad’s saying. It’s true! 🙂 Yes, WV is a gorgeous state.
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June 1, 2019 at 12:27 pm
🙂
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May 31, 2019 at 10:47 am
What a fun post. Sorry I’m so late to the party! I look for colloquialisms for my writing because they grab readers’ attention and make the entire story more fun. This is a good one.
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June 1, 2019 at 6:25 am
Thanks, Jacqui. I’m happy you enjoyed the post. Welcome home! I can’t wait to hear about our trip.
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June 11, 2019 at 12:21 pm
Haha…love it, Jill! Tell DfD that he should have said, “It’s chucking it down” 😀 Buggy is another word for stroller here, but when I lived in California, it took me ages to say ‘shopping cart’ instead of ‘shopping trolly’, as we call it in England 🙂 ❤
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June 12, 2019 at 5:43 pm
Hi Sherri! LOL! I’ll tell DFD. I think that’s a strange as “pouring the rain” 🙂 I love “shopping trolly.” Our neighbor from England calls a golf cart a “trolly.” Thanks for stopping by! ❤
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June 13, 2019 at 11:15 am
I will have to stop myself from saying, “pouring the rain,” now…and let me tell you, it is doing just that today LOL! Have a great weekend coming up, Jilly B, and I will email you very soon 🙂 ❤
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June 11, 2019 at 4:07 pm
LOL! I have a long list of colloquialisms. I use buggy too. Some folks here still call a purse a pocketbook, and the refrigerator is an ice box. Great post!
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June 12, 2019 at 5:40 pm
Thanks, Gail! My grandmother called a purse a pocketbook, too. I’ve gotten strange looks from people saying “buggy.” 🙂 Thanks for popping over!
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