Traditional
Still common
Definition
Raining extremely heavily — as in "bucketing down."
Example Sentence
"Don't go out without an umbrella, it's absolutely bucketing down."
Where "Bucketing" Comes From
"Bucketing" comes from the image of rain falling as if being poured straight out of a bucket — a vivid, literal way to describe a genuine downpour rather than light rain.
It's part of a broader family of intensified rain descriptions in Australian and British English, alongside phrases like "pouring" and "pissing down."
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How Aussies Actually Use It
"Bucketing down" is almost always used for sudden, heavy downpours rather than steady, gentle rain — it implies genuine intensity.
It's common in casual weather chat and complaints about getting caught out without protection: "I got soaked, it was bucketing down out of nowhere."
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