Rain Fire and Brimstone

What Does "Rain Fire and Brimstone" Mean?

"Rain fire and brimstone" is an English idiom. It means "to deliver a passionate, forceful, or threatening speech or message; to speak in a fervent or aggressive manner."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rain fire and brimstone" used in a sentence:

• The politician rained fire and brimstone in his campaign speech, promising radical changes.
• The coach rained fire and brimstone in the locker room to motivate the team.
• His sermon rained fire and brimstone, warning of impending doom if they didn't repent.

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rain Fire and Brimstone" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "rain fire and brimstone" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions