a bird of ill-omen
Preserved but no longer current.
A person who is regarded as unlucky; one who is in the habit of bringing ill news. The phrase dates from the time of augury (g.v.) in Greece and Rome, and even to-day many look upon owls, crows, and ravens as unlucky birds, swallows and storks as lucky ones.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a bird of ill-omen” mean?
A person who is regarded as unlucky; one who is in the habit of bringing ill news. The phrase dates from the time of augury (g.v.) in Greece and Rome, and even to-day many look upon owls, crows, and ravens as unlucky birds, swallows and storks as lucky ones.
Is “a bird of ill-omen” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.