It's either a drought or a flood

It's either a drought or a flood is an idiom that is typically used to describe something that someone desperately wants, and is typically used to describe the desire for relationships (with reference to it's raining men, there's more fish in the sea and other water/rain references typically used for relationships) and how many people typically get either absolutely no interest/dates for an extended period of time (often referred to as a drought) and then suddenly have multiple offers, far more than they can handle (often referred to as a flood or interest). (Of note, when you have an interest after an extended period alone, it is often referred to as breaking the drought.)

Origins of the idiom

The idiom began as a derivation of the idiom it's either a feast or a famine which itself was originally it's either a feast or a fast but was changed in the early 1900s as the term famine was used more regularly than the term fast. [1] This idiom dates back to 1732.

The original idiom brought 2 future idioms for specific purposes, where references to food were not entirely appropriate: when it rains it pours [2] and It's either a drought or a flood.

The idiom "When it rains it pours" is typically used to describe having too much of something, with reference to raining and is typically used to reference flow-related issues, such as customers in a store, profits, job offers and other things which are of use.

When the 3 similar idioms are used

Theoretically, all 3 described idioms (It's either a drought or a flood, It's either a feast or a famine and when it rains it pours) can be used interchangeably; however they each have different metaphorical references and hence can have usages specific to each idiom.

When to use It's either a feast or a famine

It's either a feast or a famine has obvious food references and hence is typically used in reference to food-related issues, or examples which can metaphorically be related to food. While this can be the case for having many presents, many friends, much conversation or dinner guests, it isn't usually used for such things as having a lot of relationship interests, as the idea of eating a relationship just doesn't fit metaphorically.

When to use When it rains it pours

When it rains it pours has obvious references to rain, although, unlike the other 2, it doesn't suggest that it is bad no matter what happens. Rather than comparing 2 opposites, it is suggesting that it goes from good to really good. As such, this idiom is typically used to reference anything that is good no matter how much you have of it. It has obvious flow-related metaphorical value and as such is often used with reference to cash flow, income, or other elements related to wealth.

When to use It's either a drought or a flood

It's either a drought or a flood has obvious water references and is also describing 2 bad situations. As such, it suggests that both alternatives (too bad and too little) are bad, unlike the other 2 idioms (a feast, unlike a famine, is quite good, while both raining and pouring are good). Further, the water references, especially in relation to "drought" imply a relationship issue and hence it is most typically used to describe how many people have absolutely no love interests for a lengthy period of time then suddenly have far more than they can handle.

How to use It's either a drought or a flood in a sentence

Good examples:

Person 1: I haven't been on a date at all for 5 years and have been as lonely as anyone, then suddenly I have 5 or 6 girls who all want me. What do I do? Why does this always seem to happen?

Person 2: Well, it's either a drought or a flood, isn't it?

There haven't been any good shows on TV for months and now suddenly every channel I turn on is brilliant and I can't watch them all. It's either a drought or a flood, isn't it?

When not to use it's either a drought or a flood

Bad examples:

There's been so few customers coming in then suddenly there's tons and tons. It's either a drought or a flood really, isn't it? (should use When it rains it pours, ideally)

I have hardly been getting any work at all and now suddenly I have more work than I can handle. It's fantastic. It's either a drought or a flood (should use It's either a feast or a famine, ideally)

Note: In the above examples, as stated above, any of the 3 idioms could be used, although ideally there are better ones that could be used.