Some weather terms are just… weird and wacky. No ifs ands or buts about it. Here’s one from the weather nerd archives that may leave you scratching your head: Frog Strangler.
The term “Frog Strangler” dates back to 1870, according to a post on StackExchange. Almost all the variants of the colloquialism, which begin with “frog” or “toad,” followed by “strangler,” “choker,” or “drowner,” have emerged from the southern United States.
Here’s the 411: the term “Frog Strangler” actually refers to a heavy downpour of rain, i.e. a storm with a heavy downpour – one capable of strangling frogs.
Although they can breathe underwater, the fact is that frogs can drown, according to WritingExplained.com. And here’s the interesting scientific sidebar: rainwater contains less oxygen than fresh water that falls to earth. This could make frogs drown faster than the heavy rain might typically cause, the StackExchange post surmises.
So, if you’d like to impress your friends (or just make them look at you like you’re from another planet), the next time you’re experiencing a heavy downpour, you can remark, “that’s a real Frog Strangler.”
You’re welcome.
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