The athletes poured sweat during the match, never slackening.
Tips
history
Drawn from 《战国策·齐策一》: 连衽成帷,举袂成幕,挥汗成雨 — a passage describing bustling Linzi, where the crowds were so dense that their sweat, flicked away, felt like rainfall. The compressed 挥汗如雨 carries that vivid image.
usage
Describes heavy sweating from heat or physical effort. Often in construction, sports, cooking, summer labor. Contrast with 大汗淋漓 (profusely sweating, more everyday) — 挥汗如雨 has a more literary flavor.