Meaning
Under suspicion, or in a state of disgrace or trouble, often because of some unresolved accusation or doubt about one’s conduct.
It frequently implies that a person’s reputation has been damaged, even if nothing has been formally proven against them.
Origin
The idiom draws on the figurative use of “cloud” to mean anything that obscures, darkens, or casts a shadow over something — a sense documented in English from around 1300 onward. Applied specifically to a person’s reputation or standing, “under a cloud” is recorded from around 1500, describing someone whose good name has become clouded, or obscured, by suspicion, scandal, or misfortune, much as an actual cloud obscures clear skies.
Examples
He left the company under a cloud after the audit results came out.
She’s been under a cloud ever since the accusations surfaced.
The politician resigned under a cloud of controversy.
A: Why did he leave so suddenly? B: He left under a cloud, apparently.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Under a cloud' mean?
Under suspicion, or in a state of disgrace or trouble, often because of some unresolved accusation or doubt about one’s conduct.
It frequently implies that a person’s reputation has been damaged, even if nothing has been formally proven against them.