bird of ill omen: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (literary/formal)Literary, formal, figurative
Quick answer
What does “bird of ill omen” mean?
A person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck or to signal that something bad is going to happen.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck or to signal that something bad is going to happen.
A harbinger of misfortune; a sign or warning of impending disaster or trouble.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in both varieties, though slightly more common in British literary contexts due to older superstition references.
Connotations
Archaic, dramatic, portentous; often used with a sense of irony or humor in modern contexts.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech; found in literature, journalism (for dramatic effect), and historical narratives.
Grammar
How to Use “bird of ill omen” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a bird of ill omen.[Subject] arrived like a bird of ill omen.To regard [Object] as a bird of ill omen.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bird of ill omen” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The councillor seemed to bird-of-ill-omen every meeting with his gloomy predictions. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- He had a bird-of-ill-omen presence about him.
American English
- She made a bird-of-ill-omen remark that silenced the room.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new financial report was seen as a bird of ill omen for the upcoming quarter."
Academic
"In the narrative, the stranger functions as a bird of ill omen, foreshadowing the tragedy to come."
Everyday
"Every time my pessimistic uncle visits, it rains—he's a real bird of ill omen!" (humorous)
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bird of ill omen”
- Using it to describe a person who is simply unlucky themselves (rather than one who causes/brings bad luck).
- Using it in overly casual contexts where it sounds pompous.
- Incorrect article: 'a bird of ill omen' (not 'the' unless specified).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is relatively rare and belongs to a literary or formal register. It is used for dramatic or ironic effect.
It can refer to both. A person can be a bird of ill omen, and an event or sign (e.g., a bad economic report) can also be described as one.
It originates from ancient superstitions and augury, where the behavior or appearance of certain birds (like owls, ravens, or crows) was believed to foretell misfortune or death.
It can be, as it labels them as a bringer of bad luck. However, it is often used humorously or lightly among friends, or metaphorically in writing. Context is key.
A person or thing that is believed to bring bad luck or to signal that something bad is going to happen.
Bird of ill omen is usually literary, formal, figurative in register.
Bird of ill omen: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɜːd əv ˌɪl ˈəʊmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɜːrd əv ˌɪl ˈoʊmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bird of ill omen”
- “like a bird of ill omen”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large, black RAVEN (a bird often seen as an omen) crashing a party and immediately the lights go out and the cake falls over. That raven is a BIRD OF ILL OMEN.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE BIRDS / EVENTS ARE SIGNIFIED BY NATURAL EVENTS
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bird of ill omen' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?