The expression pleuvoir des cordes describes very heavy, continuous and abundant rain. We imagine ropes falling from the sky, but the real meaning is not literal. It is used to say that it is raining so hard that water is falling in large quantities. In il pleut des cordes, pleuvoir keeps its usual meaning, and des cordes adds the idea of rain coming down in large streams, as if the sky were pouring down threads of water. It can be used for a sudden shower, a thunderstorm or a long spell of bad weather: Depuis midi, il pleut des cordes.

GibouléeAversePleuvoir des cordesDélugeTrempé

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Une averse est une pluie courte mais assez forteCe mot désigne une quantité d eau impressionnante ou une pluie très abondanteCette expression signifie qu il tombe une pluie très forte pendant un momentCe mot décrit quelqu un qui est complètement mouilléUne giboulée est une pluie soudaine et changeante

Figurative meaning of very heavy rain

Word	Definition
Pleuvoir des cordes	This expression means that very heavy rain falls for a while.
Averse	A downpour is short but fairly heavy rain.
Déluge	This word refers to an impressive amount of water or very abundant rain.
Trempé	This word describes someone who is completely wet.
Giboulée	A rain shower is sudden and changeable rain.

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The most natural phrasing is il pleut des cordes. The pronoun il refers to no person or specific thing: it is an impersonal form. In conversation, people therefore say il pleut des cordes to talk about the weather. Tomber des cordes is also encountered, in sentences such as des cordes tombent du ciel or, more naturally, il tombe des cordes, but this form remains less common than il pleut des cordes. The verb and the pronoun present the rain as a general phenomenon, without a real subject.

Impersonal use of the expression

Idea
The impersonal pronoun it is often used with this expression.
The construction stays in the present indicative to describe rain that is currently falling.
The variant tomber des cordes also exists in certain contexts.

The expression belongs to everyday French. It is frequent in speech, in a discussion among friends, with family or at work. It can accompany a practical reaction to bad weather: Il pleut des cordes, prends ton parapluie or On va attendre, il pleut des cordes dehors. The tone is simple and lively. It is used to emphasize the intensity of the rain, often with a sense of annoyance or surprise. It suits concrete everyday situations, when one has to decide whether to go out, run, take shelter or change plans.

Pleuvoir à verse also expresses very heavy rain. This phrasing emphasizes the continuous flow of falling water. Pleuvoir des cordes is more vivid and more informal. Tomber des cordes is understood in the same way, but is used less often. Il tombe des seaux exists in some usage, with the same idea of very abundant rain, but the expression is less standard. Conversely, bruiner refers to fine, light rain, almost a veil of water. Therefore, pleuvoir des cordes should not be used for a little rain. If the rain heavily soaks the streets, clothes and umbrellas, il pleut des cordes is appropriate; if the air is merely humid and a few drops are falling, bruiner is the right verb.

Pluie fineIl tombe des seauxBruinerTomber des cordesPleuvoir à verse

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Cette expression désigne une pluie légère et discrèteCe verbe signifie pleuvoir très finement avec de petites gouttesCette tournure familière signifie pleuvoir très fortCette image familière décrit une pluie très abondanteCette expression veut dire pleuvoir très fort de façon continue

Related expressions and shades of meaning about rain

Word	Definition
Pleuvoir à verse	This expression means to rain very heavily continuously.
Tomber des cordes	This familiar expression means to rain very heavily.
Il tombe des seaux	This familiar image describes very heavy rain.
Bruiner	This verb means to rain very lightly with small drops.
Pluie fine	This expression refers to light and unobtrusive rain.

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