Accrington Web - Silly sayings

[quote author=ANNE link=board=anything;num=1064387900;start=0#10 date=09/24/03 at 23:59:24]!'v got eyes in the back of my head. ::)
Its raining cats and dogs. [smiley=dogrun.gif][/quote]

Was just reading through all the silly sayings and whilst laughing me head off i noticed this by Anne - and realised i had seen the real reason why we say it -

Houses had thatched roofs -- thick straw -- piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof -- hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."