PROVERBS and sayings—‘It never RAINS but it pours’ = misfortunes never come singly; ‘If it should RAIN pottage, he would want his dish,’ said of a wastrel or STAR-GAZER (q.v.). ‘It RAINS by planets,’ i.e., partially; TO GET OUT OF THE RAIN = to absent oneself, to refrain from meddling. See also CATS-AND-DOGS, RIGHT, &c.
1749. SMOLLETT, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 18. As IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, I was in the front of the battle … that I might lose no time in learning to stand fire.
1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, 95. Ham was one of ’em—he was! He ‘knew sufficient TO GET OUT OF THE RAIN.’
