what is the etymology of "pissing it down"?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

We're not sure why this showed up in our top search queries, but we'll address it anyway.

First off, "etymology" refers to the derivation of words, not phrases. So you should be asking for the "origin of the phrase 'pissing it down.'"

As to that, we have no clue, but we doubt it has a single, isolatable source. Equating heavy rain with micturition takes no great imaginative leap; most likely many people thought of it, started using it, and we got to where we are today.

But if you're just aching for a great story behind the phrase, we'll just make one up for you to use, and it'll be our secret.

Many years ago, in a ridiculously named country, we'll say Tanganyika, the local shaman of the local tribe of the local village was heavily put upon to make it rain. This seemed especially odd as the village grew no crops, and most of the tribesfolk got their water from the local United Relief. Still, they figured the shaman was obligated to perform some sort of function around the village, and making it rain seemed like a good one.

So they told the poor shaman to make it rain or else.

Now, the shaman, let's call him Ward, had no idea how to make it rain--no more idea than what that "or else" meant--so he went to the village elder, Duane, for advice, and Duane said he had no idea how to make it rain either--no more idea than why the villagers would believe in such supernatural nonsense. So Duane told Ward to seek out Hans, the German emigre who roamed the outskirts of town. So Ward sought out Hans, and after many long days he found him resting on top of a termite mound.

"Herr Hans," Ward said. "The village elder Duane told me to seek you out, for I must make it rain, but I know not how."

And Hans, being so very old and German, squinted his eyes and looked to the East, and in a low, crusty, so very old and German voice said this: "Why have you come to me? I have no more idea how to make it rain than I have a reason for sitting on this termite mound. You must go out into the plains, and there you must find the mightiest lion, he will give you seven tests, and when you have passed the lion's seven tests, you must ask him what you have asked me."

And Ward, very tired from his quest and knowing there was still very much of it remaining, gathered his strength and told the very old and German Hans to go to Hell.

The moral: Never finish what you start when your goal is foolishness.