And English question?

[Vivaldi]

"It is raining cats and dogs" is not much used?

It is one of the first things that is teached in English lesson.

[WindAtMyBack]

It's not common. Whenever I see lists of English idioms, most are rarely used, and I've never heard of some of them.

Most people only use about half of their vocabulary. Writers use a lot of words that normal people don't use. Writers are taught to use alternative words rather than keep repeating the same words. So they use a bunch of synonyms instead of the words most people use in every day conversation.

Books, movies and TV all have professional writers. They use a LOT of words and phrases that are virtually never used in normal conversation. English learners often ask about words they heard or read. It's common for me to know the meaning, but have never heard anyone actually use it.

The word, phrase or idiom will get used in books, movies and TV, so you still need to learn their meaning.

Hollywood writers will completely make up dialects. A good example is "hillbilly" speech. Some of it is semi-real. But much of it is completely fabricated by Hollywood. The TV show Ozark is a good example of completely fabricated dialect.

[slatyb]

I haven't heard that for a long time. That's the problem with many language classes -- you learn school French, or school English, but that's not how people actually talk. At least in English and Spanish there is a clear separation between words. There is a lot of slang, and it changes constantly, but at least you can tell what the word is. The French run their words together, and use a lot of contractions that you won't learn in a class.

[douride2]

Cats & dogs. I'm just glad it doesn't rain cows & horses.

[Vivaldi]

That might make the rain even more heavy perhaps.

[Abbycado]

No, that is not a common expression these days.

[Vivaldi]

Is it absurd when it is used?

[Phoenix98]

It's a pretty common phrase where I'm from.

[Fireguy17]

How about frog strangler.

[Anonymous]

I think that term is used quite often.