1. It's raining cats and dogs.
2. Hit the sack.
3. You're bouncing off the walls.
What is the inferential meaning of all the 3 idioms?
What, like Scooby-Doo in that movie with dinosaurs?
I think no one knows how or why "raining cats and dogs" came to be. It just means heavy, hard rain. Perhaps as if the drops of water are big and hit hard, as if they're the size of small animals?
"Sack" is a euphemism for bed. The bed linens are like a sack or bag. We call it a "sleeping bag". When you crawl under the blankets, it makes a cozysack for your body.
"Bouncing off the walls" means out of control, bouncing around without reason or purpose.
1. "It's raining cats and dogs." - The literal meaning of this phrase is that it is raining heavily. However, the inferential meaning is that it is raining very heavily, as if animals are falling from the sky. To understand the inferential meaning, you can break it down into two parts: "raining heavily" and "cats and dogs." "Raining heavily" implies a significant amount of rainfall, while "cats and dogs" adds an element of exaggeration, emphasizing the intensity of the rain.
2. "Hit the sack." - Literally, this phrase means to go to bed or to lie down. However, the inferential meaning is to go to sleep or to call it a day. To understand the inferential meaning, you need to consider the idiomatic use of "sack" to represent a bed. "Hit" in this context means to start or initiate. It implies that it is time to wrap up activities and go rest.
3. "You're bouncing off the walls." - The literal meaning of this phrase is to physically bounce off the walls. However, the inferential meaning is that someone is excessively energetic, restless, or hyperactive. To understand the inferential meaning, you can analyze the phrase as a metaphor. "Bouncing off the walls" indicates excessive movement or high energy levels, suggesting that the person is unable to contain their enthusiasm or excitement.
In each case, understanding the inferential meaning of these idioms requires recognizing the figurative use of the language and interpreting the phrases within their cultural contexts.