Attempting to tackle the origin of “Its raining cats and dogs” Cecil proposes, inter alia, that: “It comes from the Greek catadupe, waterfall…It comes from the Latin cata doxas, contrary to experience, i.e., it’s raining unusually hard.”
Just like to point out a slight mix up:
“Cata doxa” is a Greek, not a Latin phrase which means contrary to experience or belief.
“Catadupe” is not a Greek expression (classical or contemporary). The closest bonafide expression is “catadsis” which means to plunge or to submerge.
Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment.
Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site. To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space before and after the text of the URL).
Cecil’s column can be found on-line at the link provided by the friendly Anser sp. (or is it Branta?)
I thought her name referred to the Magpie Goose of Australia, Anseranas semipalmata, whose scientific name means Goose-duck. But I suppose it really should be Anasanasanser.
