menacing clouds

USAGE SUMMARY

'menacing clouds' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a cloudy sky that looks like it could bring bad weather or danger. Example: The menacing clouds ominously rolled in, and it started to pour.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

They stand in choral formation before a backdrop of menacing clouds and cheesy lightning effects.

The New York Times

Menacing clouds hovered overhead, but they parted as the couple said their vows, as if everything was finally right in the world.

The New York Times

Then there is the photograph taken during a break in a spring thunderstorm  (Slide 6) — menacing clouds hover in the east, while the mirror captures blue sky in the west, along with a second squall just beginning to spill over a distant mountain ridge.

The New York Times

Menacing clouds were moving in from southern skies, fluffy with refracted light on top with angry gray flat bottoms.

Forbes

As the storms sent black, menacing clouds rolling across some cities, hail ranging from the size of a dime to a quarter fell in some areas of Pennsylvania, AccuWeather.com said.

Huffington Post

Lightning struck the right wing as we were ascending through some menacing clouds above the Bosporus.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

One motorist films a menacing cloud on the road ahead as he slowly drives toward it before coming to a stop.

The Washington Post

They're not sure what to do when there are no pics of this menacing cloud – made of glass, eh, well I never – and end up showing us empty airport terminals as usual.

The Guardian

Tom Fordyce, BBC Sport's chief sports writer: "Menacing grey clouds parked overhead at Lord's.

BBC

Still, even with new colleagues, victims and suspects, "Season 3 looks an awful lot like the first two: brooding clouds; menacing, slate-colored skies; and leaden seas are still featured players," Alessandra Stanley wrote in The New York Times.

The New York Times - Arts

Constable's paintings of glittering seas, or towering waves and black clouds menacing the fishermen and their boats on the beach, give a more affectionate view of Brighton than initially he had felt for the place.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "menacing clouds" to create a sense of unease or foreboding in your writing, particularly when describing a natural setting or an approaching storm.

Common error

Avoid using "menacing clouds" too frequently in metaphorical contexts where the literal image of clouds doesn't fit. It can sound cliché or forced if applied inappropriately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "menacing clouds" primarily functions as a descriptive element, modifying the noun "clouds" with the adjective "menacing". Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. The adjective emphasizes the threatening nature or appearance of the clouds.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "menacing clouds" effectively conveys a sense of impending threat or danger, primarily used in descriptive contexts within News & Media. Ludwig AI confirms that "menacing clouds" is a correct and usable phrase. While grammatically sound and evoking a clear image, it should be used judiciously to avoid cliché. Alternatives like "ominous skies" or "threatening storm clouds" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

threatening storm clouds

Explicitly mentions the potential for a storm.

foreboding clouds

Highlights the feeling of unease or apprehension that the clouds evoke.

ominous skies

Focuses on the overall sky condition rather than specifically the clouds.

brooding skies

Implies a heavy, oppressive atmosphere created by the clouds.

oppressive clouds

Highlights the feeling of being weighed down or burdened by the clouds.

darkening clouds

Emphasizes the visual change in the clouds, suggesting an approaching storm.

angry clouds

Uses personification to describe the clouds as displaying anger.

gathering storm

Shifts the focus from the clouds themselves to the impending storm.

heavy clouds

Describes the density and weight of the clouds, suggesting rain or a storm.

stormy weather ahead

Shifts focus to the weather conditions and impending storm instead of clouds.

FAQs

How can I use "menacing clouds" in a sentence?

You can use "menacing clouds" to describe the sky before a storm, or to create a sense of impending doom. For example: "Menacing clouds gathered overhead, signaling the arrival of the hurricane."

What can I say instead of "menacing clouds"?

You can use alternatives like "ominous skies", "threatening storm clouds", or "darkening clouds" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What feeling does the phrase "menacing clouds" evoke?

The phrase "menacing clouds" generally evokes a feeling of foreboding, threat, or impending danger, often associated with an approaching storm or other negative event.

Is "menacing clouds" a common phrase in literature?

Yes, "menacing clouds" is a relatively common phrase in literature, particularly in genres like horror, thriller, and fantasy, where it's used to set a mood of tension and suspense.