it never rains but it pours

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Attested as early as the early 18th century. The modern form of the expression first appeared in print as early as 1772. For quotations using this term, see Citations:it never rains but it pours.

Proverb edit

it never rains but it pours

  1. Unfortunate events occur in quantity.
    Synonym: misfortunes never come singly

Coordinate terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  • Gregory Y. Titelman (1996) Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, →ISBN, page 172