Ill omen
Meaning
A sign or event believed to predict misfortune or evil.
Origin
Since humanity first looked to the skies and the wild world around them, there has been a primal urge to find meaning in the unusual. A sudden flock of ravens, a comet streaking across the night, or an unexpected death of an animal – these were not just random occurrences. They were messages, warnings, whispers from the gods or the Fates themselves. The phrase 'ill omen' captures this ancient human tradition of interpreting signs. It speaks to a time when the boundary between the natural and the supernatural was thin, and every strange event held the potential to foretell disaster, compelling people to heed these dark predictions or risk their very lives.
Examples
- The black cat crossing his path just before the interview felt like an ill omen.
- Many considered the sudden flock of ravens circling the castle an ill omen for the impending battle.