1 B2 idiomatic informal
to rain very heavily and forcefully
"It was pelting down, so we ran into the nearest café."
inseparable
pelt down
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
to rain very heavily
In plain English
to rain really hard
What does "pelt down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to strike downward hard and repeatedly
Actually means
to rain really hard
Usage tip
Mainly British and informal. Almost always used about rain.
Words that pair with "pelt down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rain outside all day roof windows
How to conjugate "pelt down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pelt down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pelts down
he/she/it
Past simple
pelted down
yesterday
Past participle
pelted down
have + pp
-ing form
pelting down
continuous
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Other ways to say "pelt down"
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