rain on (someone or something)

rain on (someone or something)

1. Literally, of rain, to fall on someone or something from the sky. We were nearly back to our campsite when it suddenly started raining on us. Make sure you cover up the equipment outside. I don't want it getting rained on.

2. To pour or fall on someone or something from above in a rain-like shower. Dirt and debris rained on us following the explosion. Bombs continued raining on the city from above.

3. To cause some liquid, loose substance, or multitude of small objects to fall down in a shower on someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "rain" and "on." The castle defenders rained boiling oil on the attackers below the ramparts. The dark clouds began raining hail on us halfway through the hike. The other kids started raining down snowballs on us from the other side of the yard.

4. To give or bestow something on someone in abundance. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "rain" and "on." The boss has been raining praise on Janet all week for the work she did. People across the country are raining condemnations on the prime minster for his handling of the crisis.

See also: on, rain

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

rain (up)on someone or something

[for rain, or something similar] to fall on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The ashes from the erupting volcano rained on all the people fleeing the village. It rained on the fields until they were flooded.

See also: on, rain

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

rain on someone/something

verb

See rain on someone’s parade

See also: on, rain, someone, something

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.