Meaning & use
be an omen of
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
To be a sign that something important, often bad, will happen in the future.
Grammar: Used with a noun after 'of': be an omen of disaster. Can also be followed by 'for': be an omen for the future.
Patterns
- be an omen of something
- be an omen for something
In many cultures, a black cat is an omen of bad luck.
The sudden silence in the forest was an omen of the coming storm.
For the villagers, the comet was an omen of great change.
Common combinations
- a good omen
- Seeing a rainbow on your wedding day is considered a good omen.
- a bad omen
- The broken mirror was seen as a bad omen.
- an omen of death
- In old stories, the howling of a dog at night is an omen of death.
- an omen of things to come
- The early election results were an omen of things to come.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sign
- 'Sign' is more general and can be used in everyday situations; 'omen' is more literary and often suggests a supernatural or prophetic meaning.
- portent
- 'Portent' is even more formal and literary than 'omen', and it often implies a warning of something bad.
- forewarning
- 'Forewarning' emphasizes that the sign gives you time to prepare; 'omen' is less about practical warning and more about fate.
Commonly confused: be an omen of or omen?
be an omen of vs omen
As a noun, 'omen' is the sign itself. The phrase 'be an omen of' uses it as a noun after the verb 'be'.
Practice
The appearance of a white dove is often considered ___ peace.
Choose one answer.
'An omen of' is the standard phrase meaning a sign that predicts something. 'An omen for' is possible but less common with abstract nouns like 'peace'. 'A sign to' would mean a signal directed at someone, and 'a symbol for' means a representative image, not a prediction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be an omen of”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.