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Raincouver
Weather, Geography
DCHP-3 (Apr 2023)
n. — Weather, informal, humorous
a nickname for Vancouver, BC.
Type: 1. Origin — Of the several nicknames for the city of Vancouver (see Lotusland and Brollywood), Raincouver is often used in situations where the city's rainy climate is being emphasized (see, e.g. the 1983 or 2019 quotations).
Raincouver is used primarily by British Columbians (see Chart 2 and Image 1), but is not unknown in the US, the UK, Australia (see Chart 1).
Raincouver is used primarily by British Columbians (see Chart 2 and Image 1), but is not unknown in the US, the UK, Australia (see Chart 1).
See: Cowtown,Hogtown,Peg, the,Edmonchuk,Saskabush,Lotusland,Toontown,T-dot,E-Town,The 6ix,Brollywood
The term can be used in a humorous manner, as in the 1990 quotation.
Quotations
1983
Sending an entry to one of my puzzles, David Ingham writes from Vancouver: "Things is really depressin' here in Raincouver unless, of course, the sun is shining, in which case it's an even better place to be than Toronto-the-hub-of-the-universe. It's the only city I know of which truly operates on a play ethic; if the sun is shining and you work instead of going out to play, you feel guilty."
1990
As the last of the out-of-towners paddled out of Raincouver yesterday, you'd hardly know that the event once known as the Fall Classic had taken place less than 24 hours earlier.
There was no clanking of empty mickey bottles and squashed beer cans in the gutters as street cleaners swept up the evidence of the previous night's revelry. Hardly a drunk had to be let out of the local hoosegow.
1996
White shoes may look fresh and match everything in your wardrobe but the designers obviously don't live in Raincouver. Unless you save them for sunny days be prepared to clean constantly.
2008
Wtf, Over? from Raincouver Canada writes: I don't have an ipod and I don't want one, but if someone tried to steal one from me I'd give it to them. Not because I'm weak-kneed, but because if I fought back I'd be liable to be charged. I know from personal experience.
2013
"The Raincouver title for this place is funny," Environment Canada meteorologist John McIntyre said. "It generally doesn't rain here in the summer, which is unusual for Canada. Most Canadian cities get summer rain. Halifax gets more rain than Vancouver, because it rains in the summer and it's on the edge of hurricane paths."
Or take Toronto (please).
2019
Tropical hues are on the horizon for 2019, even here in Raincouver. Living Coral has been chosen as the Pantone Color of the Year for 2019 and it has local retailers and interior designers tickled pink.
2023
Saturday, Feb. 4. It's called Raincouver for a reason. Environment Canada is forecasting rain on Saturday, with a high of 9 C at Vancouver International Airport. There's more rain on Sunday, rain on Monday, rain on Tuesday... you get the idea. Temperatures are mild, with highs hovering above 7 C for the rest of the week.
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 11 Apr. 2023.
Chart 2: Internet Domain Search, 11 Apr. 2023.
