# bird of ill omen

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bird-of-ill-omen
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person who brings bad news.

## Examples

- Don't be a bird of ill omen today.
- He is a bird of ill omen who always predicts failure before we start a project.
- The villagers avoided the traveler, fearing he was a bird of ill omen who arrived only to announce another season of hardship.

## Origin

The idiom likely descends from the practices of Ancient Roman augury, in which the flight patterns and cries of birds were interpreted as divine signs. Certain species were categorised as an unlucky presence, intended to warn the observer of an impending and significant misfortune.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.