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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Word usage - reign vs rain

I am proofing a book that uses the phrase "raining blows down on the enemy." Is this correct? I am trying to find evidence that "reigning down blows" would be better usage in this instance. Any thoughts?
  

Top answer

I'm certain that reign is not the correct verb in this case. Raining can mean pouring , but I think a different construction should be used: The enemy suffered a raining down of blows from the attackers / suffered blows raining down from the attackers. [ Just a thought.

— Philip

  • I'm certain that reign is not the correct verb in this case.
  • Raining can mean pouring , but I think a different construction should be used: The enemy suffered a raining down of blows from the attackers / suffered blows raining down from the attackers.
  • [ Just a thought.
  • ]
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3 Answers
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I'm certain that reign is not the correct verb in this case. Raining can mean pouring, but I think a different construction should be used: The enemy suffered a raining down of blows from the attackers / suffered blows raining down from the attackers. [ Just a thought. ]
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AnonymousI am trying to find evidence that "reigning down blows" would be better usage in this instance. Any thoughts?
Good luck!

A king reigns over his kingdom.

reign is intransitive. You can't reign anything, let alone blows.

CJ
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One reigns in behavior or pulls in the reigns etc, but rains down on the enemy

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