it never rains but it pours
Meaning
Troubles (or events) often come all at once rather than one at a time.
Origin
From the idea that misfortunes cluster: when it starts raining, it can suddenly become a downpour. The phrasing is recorded in English from the 18th century and became widely popular as a proverb; it was later boosted by a famous British advertising slogan (“It pours”).
Notes
Usually said about a run of bad luck or problems arriving together. Conversational, often to commiserate. Not typically used for positive “good things.”
Examples
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First my phone died and then my laptop crashed—it's true, it never rains but it pours.
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I lost my wallet this morning, and now the car won't start; it never rains but it pours.
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We were already behind schedule when two more flights got canceled—never rains but it pours.
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After weeks of calm, three clients complained in one day; it never rains but it pours.
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The basement flooded, and then the heater quit—well, it never rains but it pours.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed proverb often used as a standalone sentence. You’ll also see it after a situation: “My phone died and my car won’t start—it never rains but it pours.” The core wording is fairly fixed.
Synonyms
- when it rains, it pours
- misfortunes never come singly
- it’s one thing after another
Antonyms
- every cloud has a silver lining
- when one door closes, another opens