rainy day

noun

1. a time of need or emergency:

   saving money for a rainy day.

rainy day

noun

1. a future time of need, esp financial

Other Words From

• rainy-day adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rainy day¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

You can make a double batch and freeze half for a rainy day.

From Washington Post

To get a quick history lesson on the area, stop at the Museum of Chincoteague Island, but save your visit for a rainy day, and don’t plan on spending more than an hour there.

From Washington Post

Whip it out of your full-size hauler for a summit push, or throw it on for a rainy day hike.

From Outside Online

The contingencies companies had in place shifted from nice to have rainy day plans to actual plans that often needed to be ready to go when something went awry.

From Digiday

Charlotte receives very little snow, and has about 7 to 10 rainy days each month.

From No Straight News

There were mats everywhere and it was like a big rainy-day sleepover with most of the cast.

From The Daily Beast

Others are essentially pocketing the cash, stowing it in rainy-day funds or using it to cope with higher spending requirements.

From The Daily Beast

I left the pottering Cather to put ship-shape his cabin (as he now called it) for himself––a rainy-day occupation for aliens.

From Project Gutenberg

Paul and I had waited for storms to pass over before, and made excellent rainy-day friends.

From Project Gutenberg

She must have sold a bond left to her by a friend some years ago, which she called her rainy-day legacy.

From Project Gutenberg

There also she placed the very considerable sum of money which she had just won at baccarat, to join the rainy-day fund.

From Project Gutenberg

The rainy day I paid out, I was never more miserable in my life than I was after two miles.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Rainy Day

What is a rainy day?

Rainy day refers figuratively to a time of need or an emergency, as in Tomas was glad he saved for a rainy day when he lost his job unexpectedly.

Most often rainy day is used in reference to saving money for unexpected emergencies or needs, such as accidents, medical emergencies, or the loss of a job. People also save other things they might need in an emergency, such as nonperishable food. They might also keep items handy for an unexpected need, such as a small sewing kit in their luggage in case they need to sew up a small hole in their clothes while they’re traveling.

Example: Samira always saves her birthday money for a rainy day.

Where does rainy day come from?

The first records of rainy day meaning “time of need” come from around the 1570s.

Saving money for a rainy day is commonly seen as a good way to help avoid debt. While we can’t predict what emergencies might come up in the future, emergencies do happen to most people. Being able to set aside money, a little at a time, can help you pay the cost of those emergencies.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for rainy day?

• adversity
• trough

What are some words that share a root or word element with rainy day?

• rainy
• day

What are some words that often get used in discussing rainy day?

• keep
• money
• save

How is rainy day used in real life?

Most people realize that it’s wise to save for a rainy day, but it’s not always easy to do!

And I been tryna save my money for a rainy day!!!!

— MeekMill (@MeekMill) October 31, 2020

 

 

Save for a rainy day STOP SPENDING ALL UR MONEY ON A PAIR OF GUCCI SHOES 😩

— natalie nunn (@missnatalienunn) February 11, 2020

Try using rainy day!

Is rainy day used correctly in the following sentence?

I really want these speakers, but I’ll save that money for a rainy day instead.