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rain dance

American  

noun

  1. (especially among American Indians) a ritualistic dance performed to bring rain.


Etymology

Origin of rain dance

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bowyer, who won this season at Martinsville to snap a 190-race losing streak dating to 2012, had asked for a rain dance when the race was stopped with 80 laps left.

From Washington Times • May 6, 2018

Bowyer had asked for a rain dance when the race was stopped with 80 laps left.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2018

“I'm trying to remember every rain dance I've ever learned,” he said in the car. 

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2016

"I'm trying to remember every rain dance I've ever learned," he said in the car.

From US News • Aug. 1, 2016

My pulse was jumping lumpily, my lungs refusing to work right, my head doing a Hopi rain dance.

From The Old Die Rich by Gold, Horace Leonard