dark cloud

1. An omen of ill fortune. Financial analysts believe that the sudden drop in oil prices points to a dark cloud in the future for the national economy. All of the recent natural disasters are a dark cloud for the future of the planet. A black cat crossed your path? Dude, that's a dark cloud—get ready for some bad luck!

2. A foul mood. Sorry for snapping at you like that. My head's been in something of a dark cloud lately. I didn't have my coffee yet this morning, so, yes, I'm in a bit of a dark cloud. Sonny, I'm 95 years old—I'm always in a dark cloud!

3. A depressed mood. I felt like a dark cloud was around me all the time until I started seeing a therapist. How's Tom doing? The last time I saw him, he'd just been dumped by his girlfriend—is he still in a dark cloud? A: "Why is Mark in a dark cloud? Is he OK?" B: "Yeah, he just found out he didn't get into his first-choice school."