Raining Cats and Dogs?
So, I was doing a bit of research earlier, into animal-rain.
You know, frogs, fish, whatever.

The phrase "It's raining cats and dogs" is odd... But other languages have their own strange versions:

French: il pleut des hallebardes ("it is raining halberds") or des clous ("nails")
Afrikaans: ou vrouens met knopkieries reen ("old women with clubs")
Czech: padají trakaře ("wheelbarrows")
Danish: det regner skomagerdrenge ("shoemakers' apprentices")
Dutch: het regent pijpestelen ("pipe stems")
Greek: βρέχει καρεκλοπόδαρα ("chair legs")
Irish Gaelic: tá sé ag caitheamh sceana gréasaí ("cobblers knives")
Norwegian: det regner trollkjerringer ("she-trolls")
Portuguese: está chovendo canivetes ("penknives")
Spanish: está lloviendo chuzos ("shortpikes")
Serbian: padaju sekire ("axes")
Bosnian: padaju ćuskije ("crowbars")

What have you found out today?
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:23, 51 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

That seagulls can live to be 45....
Fact!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:32, Reply)

that baby boys
can have an erection in the womb.

which freaked me out quite a lot.
( ascorbate, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:33, Reply)

Haha!
Was this a result of my awesomeness?
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:35, Reply)

your awesomeness gave her unborn child a boner?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:36, Reply)

It's possible, yeah.

( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:37, Reply)

I hope not
and it's not specifically MY baby - just baby boys in general.
I have no idea if mine is sitting in there fiddling with himself as I write this, and if he is, I don't want to know what has inspired him to do so...

babies also drink their own pee in the womb. they are so delightful...
( ascorbate, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:37, Reply)

Hah!
I love how many characteristics they share with parasites.
Nutrition-thievery.
Host behaviour changing.
At least they don't lay eggs in you.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:39, Reply)

oh yeah
he's my own endo parasite at the mo - something my dad loves telling all his colleagues (seriously - he told his colleages that 'my daughter has an endoparasite now, but it'll be an ectoparasite in September!' any normal man would say 'I'm going to be a grandfather', but not my pa...)

plus there's the immune system depressing, and the altering of host physiology. it's all fun and games!
( ascorbate, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:41, Reply)

Is your dad a biologist of some kind,
By any chance? Hahaha!

Also, regarding parasite behaviour, can't forget Pica, in some cases!
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:44, Reply)

On a pica-related note,
The contents of a mental patient's stomach on display:
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Glore_Stomach_Display.jpg
SFW!
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 15:49, Reply)

mmmmm nails
nom nom nom
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:06, Reply)

She had pica
(named for the latin for magpie - pica pica - which is possibly the most AWESOME THING EVER)
where you have a desire to eat non-nutritional substances, such as dirt, paper, or in this case, nails.
Often triggered by anaemia.


EDIT: Didn't see the "pica" bit. Soz. Well at least you now know that the latin for magpie sounds like a noise a pokémon makes.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:31, Reply)

*sighs*
I got that image FROM the pica page.
I knew that. STOP WASTING MY TIME.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:33, Reply)

YES I know.
Because I saw that page when I had my hypochondriacattack and was convinced I had everything under the sun.*

That was for the benefit of people who DON'T know about pica. And I didn't even look it up!



*personal favourite self-diagnosis was of THIS
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:36, Reply)

Self-diagnosis is a
Slippery slope.
Next it'll be s-d'd Arse-burgers.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:40, Reply)

I hate self-diagnoses, really
As much as professional ones. Though I have had some mis-diagnoses: rhinusitis when I just had a cold, and everything from non-Epsein-Barr virus to the flu when I broke out in a horrible rash and didn't move, eat or drink for 3 days. Fun. Though mis-diagnoses are typical I guess, I'm not lambasting the medical profession, believe me!

As for the Arse-burgers... I have NEVER diagnosed myself with that.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:44, Reply)

yes
he is, and luckily I have avoided Pica. In fact, my only cravings have been for banana flavoured milkshake, and carrots (not together). oh, and marmite, which some people might consider an 'appetite for substances largely non-nutritive' :)
( ascorbate, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:34, Reply)

Ew...
Marmite is not food :(
It's made from fermented hobo-socks.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:36, Reply)

marmite is hugely nutitrious
and delicious to boot
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:44, Reply)

^ THIS
I might have a cheese-and-marmite-toastie.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:45, Reply)

I've found out
you like to copy and paste from wikipedia
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:05, Reply)

What's that?
You want MORE?
...

No, it's ok.
There's LOADS more where that came from.
LOADS MORE.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:07, Reply)

I know how you are obsessed
with wiki so I am not surprised
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:11, Reply)

that you are never going to be invited to any dinner parties I ever host

(PsychoChomp, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:06, Reply)

Shut your face,
Broken-shoulder-man.
Worst superpower ever.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:08, Reply)

I can't even shave
:(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
(PsychoChomp, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:09, Reply)

Good.
Can you wank?
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:09, Reply)

nope

(PsychoChomp, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:09, Reply)

everyone asks me that

(PsychoChomp, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:10, Reply)

Is that why you're so angry?
Or is it pent-up sexual aggression?
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:11, Reply)

did you break your shoulder
in a wanking related incident?
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:10, Reply)

no I was saving children from a burning well.

(PsychoChomp, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:11, Reply)

rn +mm
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:13, Reply)

whilst wanking
YOU DISGUST ME
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:14, Reply)

I'm upset that he has
A "Bumming Well" in his garden.

His protests of "It was there when I moved in, it'd be rude not to use it, it's like having a bbq pit already there and not taking advantage" quite frankly upset me.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:16, Reply)

so that's why
the neighbours reported screams of

it puts the lotion in the basket!!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:17, Reply)

was it so you could devour them?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:20, Reply)

That you want to be a teacher
you massive bummer
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:08, Reply)

Yes I do.
And I'll be amazing at it.
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:14, Reply)

Please dont
you'll completely mess up the "all teachers are cunts" opinion that I have in my head. It will be, "All teachers are cunts, except Kaol who is sound as a pound...although he is a massive bummer"
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:18, Reply)

no, he's a cunt
your opinion is safe
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:30, Reply)

I have a valid opinion?
*sits down in shock*

Perhaps all my other prejudices are correct...are all coppers bastards?
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:33, Reply)

they certainly are!

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:35, Reply)

Awesome!

( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:43, Reply)

The Irish is a bit off, as it means "It is throwing cobblers knives."
I'd use "cuir" rather than "caitheamh" and I'd be right and handsome.
( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:17, Reply)

You could always edit the wiki page:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raining_animals#Others
( Cawl, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:19, Reply)

If I could be bothered.

( Dr Preference AjcuiVd289, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:24, Reply)

For pity's sake, is this thread the best you can do?
Today I have found out that you suck even more than I thought.
(wellgroomedwookiee is a filthy-minded hobgoblin, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:41, Reply)

that's a quite a revelation
edit: yes, I've turned italian for that brief phrase.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:44, Reply)

Randall Monroe was Right
about tvtropes sucking you in.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 16:46, Reply)

Also
il pleut comme vache qui pisse - it's raining like a pissing cow. A phrase used by the two French WWOOFers on The Fella's farm.
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Tue 18 Aug 2009, 21:22, Reply)