Rain or shine means in any weather, whatever happens. The literal meaning is about the weather: something will take place whether it rains or the sun shines. The figurative meaning is wider: a person keeps their word or sticks to a habit whatever the circumstances. In British English, the full form come rain or shine is common.
When would you say rain or shine?
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rain or shine; come rain or shine; do something every day, rain or shine
- The farmers' market opens every Saturday morning, rain or shine.
- My dad has walked the dog at six every morning for ten years, come rain or shine.
What changed
First versionWe go jogging every morning, rain or sun.
RevisionWe go jogging every morning, rain or shine.
The idiom is fixed as rain or shine, where shine means sunny weather. There is no pair rain or sun with this meaning, even though it may seem the obvious way to say it. One word was corrected.
Rain or shine stresses consistency: something gets done in any conditions. The similar phrase no matter what is broader and has nothing to do with the weather: I'll finish this course no matter what. In essays, the idiom is replaced with regardless of the weather.
Your turn
The outdoor concert will go ahead ___, so bring an umbrella just in case.
Show the answer
rain or shine — The concert will go ahead in any weather, which is why people are told to bring an umbrella: rain or shine. Under the weather describes how a person feels (“slightly ill”) and has nothing to do with the weather outside.
Describe a habit you keep up even in bad weather. Say what you do and how often.
Rain or shine, I cycle to the office three times a week, even in February.
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