a cloud hangs over somebody/something

a cloud hangs over (someone or something)

Someone or something is surrounded by a general feeling of distrust, negativity, pessimism, or uncertainty, especially as results from a particular negative event in the recent past. After a year of unmitigated success, a cloud now hangs over the team, as a criminal investigation into allegations of domestic abuse against their captain. A cloud hangs over the future of the business, as customers continue to move their shopping habits online and away from brick-and-mortar retailers like this. A cloud has hung over the author ever since those plagiarism allegations resurfaced.

See also: cloud, hang, over

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a cloud hangs over somebody/something

if a cloud hangs over somebody/something, something bad has happened that will affect them/it for a long time: He still has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him.

See also: cloud, hang, over, somebody, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017