is “black sign” a common idiom?
"black sign" sounds like an idiom which people uses it to refer something bad likely going to be happen. Is it a common idiom and does it have a place in a daily talk?
idioms
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
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"black sign" sounds like an idiom which people uses it to refer something bad likely going to be happen. Is it a common idiom and does it have a place in a daily talk?
idioms
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
1
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13
add a comment |
"black sign" sounds like an idiom which people uses it to refer something bad likely going to be happen. Is it a common idiom and does it have a place in a daily talk?
idioms
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
"black sign" sounds like an idiom which people uses it to refer something bad likely going to be happen. Is it a common idiom and does it have a place in a daily talk?
idioms
idioms
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
asked Nov 24 '17 at 9:54
Kostorov88Kostorov88
1
1
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
1
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13
add a comment |
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
1
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
1
1
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13
add a comment |
3 Answers
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Bad sign or black omen, whichever you prefer.
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
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The use of 'black' to mean something negative, like 'it's a black day' or 'he had a black heart' is very deprecated in American English. The most common such phrase is likely 'a black mark on your record'. Use of 'black' to mean something bad is likely to cause a lot of acrimony aimed in your direction. This sort of phrasing was much more common centuries ago, but it's best avoided today.
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
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i am a native speaker of the english language and this is tthe first time I am hearing this phrase.
Hence, in my oppinion, it i not a commonly used idiom and generally it is not used in daily talk
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Bad sign or black omen, whichever you prefer.
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
add a comment |
Bad sign or black omen, whichever you prefer.
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
add a comment |
Bad sign or black omen, whichever you prefer.
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
Bad sign or black omen, whichever you prefer.
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
answered 2 hours ago
Rusty CoreRusty Core
1152
1152
add a comment |
add a comment |
The use of 'black' to mean something negative, like 'it's a black day' or 'he had a black heart' is very deprecated in American English. The most common such phrase is likely 'a black mark on your record'. Use of 'black' to mean something bad is likely to cause a lot of acrimony aimed in your direction. This sort of phrasing was much more common centuries ago, but it's best avoided today.
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
add a comment |
The use of 'black' to mean something negative, like 'it's a black day' or 'he had a black heart' is very deprecated in American English. The most common such phrase is likely 'a black mark on your record'. Use of 'black' to mean something bad is likely to cause a lot of acrimony aimed in your direction. This sort of phrasing was much more common centuries ago, but it's best avoided today.
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
add a comment |
The use of 'black' to mean something negative, like 'it's a black day' or 'he had a black heart' is very deprecated in American English. The most common such phrase is likely 'a black mark on your record'. Use of 'black' to mean something bad is likely to cause a lot of acrimony aimed in your direction. This sort of phrasing was much more common centuries ago, but it's best avoided today.
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
The use of 'black' to mean something negative, like 'it's a black day' or 'he had a black heart' is very deprecated in American English. The most common such phrase is likely 'a black mark on your record'. Use of 'black' to mean something bad is likely to cause a lot of acrimony aimed in your direction. This sort of phrasing was much more common centuries ago, but it's best avoided today.
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
answered 2 hours ago
MarkTOMarkTO
86836
86836
add a comment |
add a comment |
i am a native speaker of the english language and this is tthe first time I am hearing this phrase.
Hence, in my oppinion, it i not a commonly used idiom and generally it is not used in daily talk
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
i am a native speaker of the english language and this is tthe first time I am hearing this phrase.
Hence, in my oppinion, it i not a commonly used idiom and generally it is not used in daily talk
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
i am a native speaker of the english language and this is tthe first time I am hearing this phrase.
Hence, in my oppinion, it i not a commonly used idiom and generally it is not used in daily talk
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
i am a native speaker of the english language and this is tthe first time I am hearing this phrase.
Hence, in my oppinion, it i not a commonly used idiom and generally it is not used in daily talk
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
answered 3 hours ago
kenithkenith
52
52
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
kenith is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by 1006a 2 hours ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
While English isn't my native language I have extensive experience with the language and I have never heard this expression or the word "black" being used in this way. I know it's common in other languages though, in my native Swedish the word for moonlighting (i.e. taking illegal employment, not paying taxes) is "black work".
– pzkpfw
Nov 24 '17 at 10:04
1
No, it's not in common use, and I've never heard it. Idioms using black in this way (to mean sinister or evil) are archaic. Black now is more likely to be taken literally (the colour) or as a reference to people with dark skin. It will cause confusion for this reason, don't use it.
– Max Williams
Nov 24 '17 at 10:13