Raining cats and dogs
A very common yet strange English idiom is that used in describing a heavy downpour of rain: "Raining cats and dogs." Its origin is somewhat inconclusive.
An English word denoting a big deluge is "Cataclysm." Some people think that the "Cat" part of the word had misled people into thinking that the water related to cats, hence the idiom.
Other people say that in Norwegian folklore there was a thunder god named Oldi. He had a pair of assistants who assumed the appearance of a cat and a dog. The "cat" and the "dog" were later introduced into English idiom usage.
Perhaps the most credible explanation comes from the observation that, in certain underdeveloped places where drainage was inadequate, heavy deluges often resulted in the drowning of some cats and dogs. The dead bodies gave the impression that these animals fell from the sky.
Like many other idioms, the exact origin of this idiom is no longer an important issue. It may be interesting to note, however, that the Chinese have this to say about a heavy downpour: it is a day that "a dog cannot be chased out the door!"
Friday, January 03, 2003
Thursday, January 02, 2003
Some reflections on library
The first library I came across was that of my grandpa's. At the age of 5, I suppose, I did not have a very strong impression of it. What's left in my mind is just a black wooden closet, the most common style that you could imagine, with three layers with two pieces of sliding glass filled with books and notes, some of which were so worn-out that I just took them as bindages of waste paper. Under the upper layers were two folding doors, inside which there were no more books but a rice bag and other groceries.
Young and innocent as I was I did not know what those books or notes were about, but I could remember that on the leaves there were lines of hand writings and notes, between the lines or in the page margins. Later I knew that those were the text books and note books of my grandpa's when he was a college student. Now they are missing due to a removal years ago.
Now, I have begun to create my own and enrich it all the time.
The first library I came across was that of my grandpa's. At the age of 5, I suppose, I did not have a very strong impression of it. What's left in my mind is just a black wooden closet, the most common style that you could imagine, with three layers with two pieces of sliding glass filled with books and notes, some of which were so worn-out that I just took them as bindages of waste paper. Under the upper layers were two folding doors, inside which there were no more books but a rice bag and other groceries.
Young and innocent as I was I did not know what those books or notes were about, but I could remember that on the leaves there were lines of hand writings and notes, between the lines or in the page margins. Later I knew that those were the text books and note books of my grandpa's when he was a college student. Now they are missing due to a removal years ago.
Now, I have begun to create my own and enrich it all the time.
Well, I'm finally back. How's everything going? Excuse for my absence these days but I was indeed busy with some personal matters. Anyway, a later-coming happy new year to you, Shellin. I've watched the other competitions and you performed pretty well. Hopefully we will receive our video discs very soon.
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