How do you use "Frog-strangler" in a sentence?

We got a real frog-strangler last night — the creek is flooded. Don't go out right now, it's a frog-strangler out there. That was one heck of a frog-strangler — three inches of rain in an hour.

Frog-strangler

Q: What does "Frog-strangler" mean?

An extremely heavy rainstorm; a downpour. Southerners have many colorful terms for heavy rain, and 'frog-strangler' is one of the most vivid. The idea is that it's raining so hard even the frogs — creatures that love water — could drown. Similar expressions include 'gully-washer' and 'toad-strangler.'

American Slang Term American ★★☆☆☆ Uncommon informal

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Meaning: An extremely heavy rainstorm; a downpour.

特大暴雨；倾盆大雨。

Una tormenta de lluvia extremadamente fuerte; un diluvio.

非常に激しい雨、土砂降り。

매우 심한 폭우, 물 폭탄.

Southerners have many colorful terms for heavy rain, and 'frog-strangler' is one of the most vivid. The idea is that it's raining so hard even the frogs — creatures that love water — could drown. Similar expressions include 'gully-washer' and 'toad-strangler.'

南方人有很多生动的词汇来形容大雨，'frog-strangler（能淹死青蛙的雨）'就是最形象的之一。意思是雨大到连青蛙这种爱水的生物都会被淹死。类似的表达还有'gully-washer（冲沟的雨）'和'toad-strangler（能淹死蟾蜍的雨）'。

Los sureños tienen muchos términos pintorescos para la lluvia torrencial, y 'frog-strangler' (ahoga-ranas) es uno de los más vívidos. La idea es que llueve tan fuerte que hasta las ranas — que son animales que adoran el agua — podrían ahogarse. Expresiones similares son 'gully-washer' y 'toad-strangler'.

南部の人々は大雨を表す色鮮やかな表現をたくさん持っており、「frog-strangler（カエル溺れ雨）」はその中でも最も生き生きとしたものの一つだ。水が大好きなカエルでさえ溺れてしまうほどの雨という発想である。類似の表現に「gully-washer（溝洗い雨）」や「toad-strangler（ヒキガエル溺れ雨）」がある。

남부 사람들은 심한 비를 묘사하는 다채로운 표현을 많이 가지고 있으며, 'frog-strangler'는 가장 생생한 표현 중 하나이다. 물을 좋아하는 개구리조차 익사할 정도로 비가 많이 온다는 발상이다. 비슷한 표현으로 'gully-washer'와 'toad-strangler'가 있다.

Examples

We got a real frog-strangler last night — the creek is flooded.
昨晚下了场瓢泼大雨——小溪都发洪水了。
Anoche cayó un verdadero diluvio — el arroyo se ha desbordado.
昨夜はすごい土砂降りだった——小川が氾濫しているよ。
어젯밤에 엄청난 폭우가 쏟아졌어 — 개울이 범람했어.
Don't go out right now, it's a frog-strangler out there.
现在别出去，外面大雨倾盆。
No salgas ahora, está cayendo un diluvio ahí fuera.
今は外に出ないで、ものすごい土砂降りだから。
지금 밖에 나가지 마, 장대비가 쏟아지고 있으니까.
That was one heck of a frog-strangler — three inches of rain in an hour.
那场雨可真够猛的——一小时下了三英寸的雨。
Vaya diluvio que cayó — tres pulgadas de lluvia en una hora.
あれはとんでもない土砂降りだった——1時間で3インチも降ったんだ。
정말 엄청난 폭우였어 — 한 시간에 3인치나 내렸다니까.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: weather, storms, casual conversation

Tone: dramatic, humorous

✓ Do Say

It was a real frog-strangler.
那真是场瓢泼大雨。
Fue un auténtico diluvio.
本当にすごい土砂降りだった。
정말 엄청난 폭우였어.
We're in for a frog-strangler tonight.
今晚要下大暴雨了。
Esta noche nos espera un buen chaparrón.
今夜は土砂降りになりそうだ。
오늘 밤 장대비가 올 거야.

✗ Don't Say

Don't use for light rain — a frog-strangler is specifically a very heavy downpour
不要用于形容小雨——frog-strangler专指非常猛烈的暴雨
No lo uses para lluvia ligera — un 'frog-strangler' es específicamente un aguacero muy fuerte
小雨には使わないこと——frog-stranglerは特に非常に激しい土砂降りを指す
약한 비에는 사용하지 말 것 — frog-strangler는 특히 매우 심한 폭우를 가리킨다

Origin & History

A Southern expression born from agricultural communities where rainfall was a constant topic. The hyperbolic image — rain so heavy it would drown amphibians — reflects the South's love of dramatic, humorous descriptions.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Rural South, Texas, Gulf states