sheet down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 - C1 (Upper Intermediate to Advanced)Informal, descriptive. Common in spoken narratives, weather reports, and literary description.
Quick answer
What does “sheet down” mean?
(verb phrase) To rain very heavily, with rain falling in broad sheets or as if poured from above.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(verb phrase) To rain very heavily, with rain falling in broad sheets or as if poured from above.
To descend or flow copiously, resembling heavy rainfall. Can be used metaphorically for things like data, information, or criticism arriving in large quantities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally understood in both varieties, though slightly more common in UK English due to the frequency of descriptive weather talk. No significant lexical or grammatical difference.
Connotations
Vivid, slightly dramatic imagery. Can imply being caught unprepared or a sudden deluge.
Frequency
Low frequency in formal writing; medium frequency in informal speech and descriptive prose, especially in the UK and Ireland.
Grammar
How to Use “sheet down” in a Sentence
It + sheet down (+ with rain)Rain + sheet downSubject (rain, water) + sheet down + (prepositional phrase)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sheet down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It's been sheeting down all morning, so the match is off.
- We had to pull over because the rain was just sheeting down the windscreen.
American English
- We got caught in a storm where it sheeted down for twenty solid minutes.
- The monsoon sheets down every afternoon this time of year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The negative feedback is sheeting down on social media.'
Academic
Rare, except in descriptive geography or meteorology texts.
Everyday
Common for describing heavy rain in conversation: 'We can't leave yet, it's sheeting down!'
Technical
Not technical. Used in public weather forecasts and maritime reports for descriptive colour.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sheet down”
- Using 'sheet' as a noun: 'A sheet is down' (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'shut down'.
- Using without 'down': 'It's sheeting' (incomplete, though sometimes heard in informal UK English).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and descriptive. Use 'rain heavily' or 'pour' in more formal contexts.
Typically, no. 'Sheet down' is a phrasal verb. While you might hear 'It's sheeting!' colloquially (especially in the UK), 'sheet down' is the standard form.
They are very close synonyms. 'Sheet down' adds a more vivid, visual image of the rain falling in broad, continuous sheets, making it slightly more dramatic and descriptive.
Yes, metaphorically. You can say things like 'Data sheeted down from the servers' or 'Accusations sheeted down on the scandal-plagued minister,' meaning they came in a heavy, relentless flow.
(verb phrase) To rain very heavily, with rain falling in broad sheets or as if poured from above.
Sheet down: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃiːt daʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃiːt daʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Coming down in sheets (equivalent idiom)”
- “Rain like stair rods (UK, similar imagery)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BED SHEET soaked with water being held up and tipped over – the water doesn't fall in drops but in a solid, continuous SHEET. So, rain 'sheets down'.
Conceptual Metaphor
RAIN IS A SOLID COVERING / RAIN IS A WATERFALL.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario would you most likely use 'sheet down'?