premonition of disaster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "premonition of disaster" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a feeling or intuition that something bad is going to happen. Example: "As the storm clouds gathered, she felt a premonition of disaster looming over the event."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

JUNE 15, 1904, dawned a beautiful spring day without the slightest premonition of disaster.

The New York Times

Down in the boiler room of the museum, the creaks and clamour of Stephen Vitiello's "World Trade Center Recordings: Winds after Hurricane Floyd" from 1999 are a horrifying premonition of disaster.

The Economist

Her mother had a premonition of disaster, and vowed never to sleep on board – so she sat up fully clothed every night and was ready to meet disaster when it struck.

The Guardian - Books

R. Final Destination About to take off with his classmates on a senior trip to Paris, Alex Browning (Devon Sawa) has a strong enough premonition of disaster to rear up from his seat and demand to be taken off the plane, which explodes on takeoff.

The New York Times

J. Cook), whose premonition of disaster has recently saved her and a diverse group of strangers (including a pregnant woman, a drug addict, a black guy, a teenager and his mom) from a horrendous pileup (or, as a local news anchor pronounces it, polyp) on the interstate.

The New York Times

Kristen Cloke, Seann William Scott, Tony Todd Directed by James Wong R -- 110 minutes Rustling curtains and lightning streaks signal a hex on the Mount Abraham High School senior trip to Paris, but it takes a premonition of disaster to make Alex Browning (Mr. Sawa) rear out of his seat and frantically want off the plane shortly before takeoff.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mrs. Gordon has several premonitions of disaster which turn out to be false.

The New Yorker

By Parke Cummings The New Yorker, June 23 , 1934P. 49 Mrs. Gordon has several premonitions of disaster which turn out to be false.

The New Yorker

She arrived at the tennis court wearing a print dress and a large floppy hat.… Mrs. Gordon has several premonitions of disaster which turn out to be false.

The New Yorker

For Nancy DadiofCoyle of Hamden, the premonitions of disaster for her wedding the same day in 1989, began just before she walked down the aisle.

The New York Times

It was narrative predestination -- slippery hints and overt premonitions of disaster -- that drove the book rather than the compelling inevitability of character and motive.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure the context supports a genuine sense of foreboding. Overusing it can dilute its impact; reserve it for moments of significant impending threat.

Common error

Avoid using "premonition of disaster" casually. It should describe a strong, intuitive feeling, not just a logical conclusion based on available information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "premonition of disaster" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It describes a feeling or intuition about a future negative event. Ludwig shows examples where it serves to add suspense or foreshadowing to a narrative.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "premonition of disaster" effectively conveys a strong intuitive feeling that something bad is about to happen. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, but suggests it's used with uncommon frequency. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to foreshadow or create suspense, as demonstrated in the examples. While its register is neutral, reserve it for appropriate contexts to maintain its impact. Alternative phrases like "foreboding of calamity" and "sense of impending doom" offer similar nuances. Its careful use can enhance narrative tension, but overuse can dilute its effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foreboding of calamity

Replaces "disaster" with "calamity", emphasizing a more profound or widespread misfortune.

sense of impending doom

Focuses on the feeling of inevitable and negative future events.

feeling of approaching catastrophe

Highlights the emotional aspect of sensing an upcoming catastrophe.

presentiment of misfortune

Uses "presentiment" to suggest a feeling of something unfortunate about to happen.

intuition of coming tragedy

Emphasizes the intuitive aspect and uses "tragedy" to denote a serious event.

ominous anticipation of failure

Highlights a negative expectation focusing on the potential for failure.

expectation of looming crisis

Uses "looming crisis" to describe a significant and threatening situation.

foreknowledge of impending doom

Implies a degree of certainty about the coming negative event.

premonitory signs of collapse

Focuses on the signs indicating a potential breakdown or failure.

warning signs of impending crisis

Highlights indicators that a crisis is on the horizon.

FAQs

How can I use "premonition of disaster" in a sentence?

You can use "premonition of disaster" to describe a strong feeling that something bad is about to happen. For example: "As the ship sailed, she had a "premonition of disaster".".

What are some alternatives to "premonition of disaster"?

Alternatives include "foreboding of calamity", "sense of impending doom", or "feeling of approaching catastrophe", each carrying a similar sense of impending negativity.

Is it appropriate to use "premonition of disaster" in formal writing?

Yes, "premonition of disaster" can be used in formal writing, particularly when conveying a serious or somber tone. However, ensure the context warrants such a strong expression.

What's the difference between "premonition of disaster" and "expectation of disaster"?

"Premonition of disaster" implies an intuitive feeling or hunch, while "expectation of disaster" suggests a logical conclusion based on evidence or past experience. The former is more subjective and less rational than the latter.