Storm petrels are small sea birds, and according to seasoned sailors, they generally make an appearance just before the arrival of a storm. The birds are seen as an omen of the troubled times ahead. Therefore, when you refer to someone as a stormy petrel, you mean the individual is a troublemaker; someone whose arrival suggests that you had better buckle up, for you are in for a very bumpy ride.
My superstitious boss regards Renu as a stormy petrel. Whenever she drops in, we make sure that our boss doesn’t see her.
Please do not include a stormy petrel like Ganpat in the team.
Petrel comes from the Italian Petrello, meaning ‘little Peter’ – the Peter being referred to in this context is the Apostle who walked on water when Jesus commanded him to. When flying over the ocean, the petrels fly so low that they give the impression they are literally walking on water – just like Peter. Sailors sometimes refer to these birds as Mother Carey’s chickens.
The first syllable of petrel is pronounced like the word ‘pet’, and the following ‘e’ is like the ‘a’ in ‘china’. The word is pronounced ‘PET-rel’ with the stress on the first syllable. Native speakers of English pronounce the word petrol in the same manner.
Image Source:
Banner: https://images.app.goo.gl/sPpWATNbC5aQNEV9A
Know Your English 