   Frog StranglerIn Southern and Appalachian speech, a "frog strangler" means a sudden, heavy downpour of rain. It’s a colorful way to describe a storm so fierce it could drown frogs in the puddles. #SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Weather&Seasons #Southern Hillbilly Dude Says...  I do hear people use 'frog strangler' from time to time. But I'm not a big fan because I enjoy frogs. Not too cool. Pronunciation[FROG STRANG-lur] Meaning & Usage- A very heavy rainstorm (noun)
Mae:
Think it’ll pass quick?
Earl:
Hard tellin’. It’s a frog strangler right now.other spellings: gully washer, cloudburst, soaker, deluge, we got caught in a frog strangler, and that storm was a frog strangler if I ever saw one ★ "Frog strangler" is a funny, folksy exaggeration. It doesn’t mean anyone’s hurt - just that the rain’s comin’ down in buckets. ★ OriginLikely arose in 19th-century Southern speech, where frogs were a common sight in flooded ditches and fields. The phrase paints a comic picture of rain so fierce even frogs would struggle. NotesStill heard widely in the South and Appalachia, especially from older speakers and in rural areas. Outsiders may not know it, but once they hear it, they don’t forget it. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "frog-strang-ler." The two words often run together quick in country speech. | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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