Canada· medium· informal
mouiller à boire debout
“to wet enough to drink standing up”
Meaning
to rain hard enough to soak anyone outside
Explanation
Standard French says 'pleuvoir' when it rains. Quebec French just as often says 'mouiller', and this version pictures rain heavy enough that you could tip your head back and drink it where you stand.
Example
Reste pas dehors, il mouille à boire debout depuis ce matin.
Don't stay outside, it's been raining hard since this morning.
Origin
A compound of 'mouiller' (to wet), 'boire' (to drink) and 'debout' (standing). Quebec keeps a few of these to hand: 'mouiller à siaux', by the bucket, is the other common one.
Where
Quebec
Source
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