READERS WORDS

Re last week’s Pedant Class, the internet gives two possible origins of the phrase “raining cats and dogs”. One is that they lived in low-thatched roofs and might fall when the roofs became slippery with rain. The other is that in English streets in the 17th century, dead animals might be washed along the street in heavy rains. — Daniel J Smith I read somewhere that the phrase “raining cats and dogs” comes from the medieval practice of sheltering one’s pets in the loft during rainstorms. When it rained especially hard, the roof would leak, causing the cats and dogs to come running back downstairs. — Calvin Scholtz I always know when it has rained cats and dogs . . . when I step outside I am likely to step in a poodle. — Kingston Patrick S

Cuthbert An article in the Cape Argus on July 11 spoke of Angelina Jolie and “those infamous viles of each other’s blood she and former hubby, Billy Bob Thornton, used to wear”. I'm sure many people may think the idea vile, but the containers that they wore around their necks were vials. — David Gregory I am delighted to be in your and fellow readers’ company as we rail and rage over bad usage of words and grammar. One of my pet hates is the Americanisation of English: Americanization instead of Americanisation, program instead of programme. I’m trying to be a little less rigid in my attitude, in the acknowledgement that language evolves, but it’s difficult. — Gordon

Oliver