Britons brace themselves for more floods
A warming planet is making a soggy island soggier
THE BRITISH are fond of talking about the weather. What they really enjoy, though, is grumbling about the rain. Luckily, they have ample opportunity and a rich vocabulary, according to Alan Connor, author of a new book about rain in Britain. A heavy downpour can be “pissing, tipping, chucking or bucketing it down”. In the Midlands you might call it a “plothering”. In the West Country you still hear “mizzle” (between mist and drizzle) and “letty” (just enough to make outdoor work trying).
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Wet, wet, wet”
From the January 4th 2025 edition
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