Which among the following alternatives is an idiom that means 'to start to rain heavily'?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer
The heavens open
Explanation
The question asks for the idiom that means 'to start to rain heavily'. The idiom "the heavens open" (or "the heavens opened") is a traditional English expression used to describe a sudden, torrential downpour of rain. It carries the imagery of the sky splitting wide open to release a massive volume of water all at once.
The other options are incorrect because they are not established idioms in the English language. Option 2 (The stars open), Option 3 (The lightening open), and Option 4 (Zeus' pitcher open) are artificial combinations created as distractors to confuse students on the exam paper.
Key Points
Idioms related to weather often feature grand or historical words for the sky, such as "heavens." When faced with unfamiliar variations, identifying the standard poetic term for the sky can guide you to the authentic idiom.