Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 20

Occupation: College Student

Residence: Los Angeles, USA

Date of Performance: February 20, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Friend

Text: “When it rains, it pours.”

Context: The informant recalls hearing this saying often, especially when things felt overwhelming and everything seemed to go wrong at once. It was frequently used by the informant’s soccer coach during tough periods, acknowledging the feeling of being overwhelmed by multiple challenges at once, and offering comfort and solidarity.

Analysis: This saying reflects a deeply human experience—the feeling that when one problem arises, it often triggers a cascade of others. It highlights how people express empathy by recognizing that difficulties often come in waves, offering a sense of understanding and support. The saying helps individuals cope by framing challenges as something shared, reminding them that they are not alone in facing tough times. I see it as a way of using language to acknowledge the emotional weight of life’s difficulties and the universal experience of hardship.