Etymology Journal · C
Come a gullywasher
Meaning
- This refers to a massive, sudden downpour of rain that is heavy enough to erode soil and create gullies. It implies that you should probably stay inside and dry off.
Folksy, urgent
Used in a sentence
- Don't even think about driving to town because it is fixing to come a gullywasher.
- We had to cancel the picnic after it started to come a gullywasher out of nowhere.
- Make sure you close the garage door before it comes a gullywasher.
The backstory
This is a descriptive term that emerged from rural American farming culture. It refers to the physical action of water rushing through fields and digging out channels in the earth.
Heard in
The South
Vibe check