1.
look of the sky; movement of clouds
The appearance of the sky based on how clouds are moving, especially as an indication of approaching weather.
雲行きが怪しくなってきた。
The sky is starting to look threatening.
雲行きを見て、傘を持っていくことにした。
Looking at the sky, I decided to bring an umbrella.
午後になって急に雲行きが変わり、激しい雨が降り出した。
In the afternoon the sky suddenly changed, and heavy rain began to fall.
2.
way things are going; signs; outlook; developments
Figuratively, the direction a situation is heading, especially when it seems to be turning unfavorable.
交渉の雲行きが怪しい。
The negotiations are looking unpromising.
経済の雲行きが悪くなっている。
The economic outlook is worsening.
会議の雲行きが怪しくなってきたので、発言を控えることにした。
Since the meeting was taking a bad turn, I decided to hold back from commenting.
USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is extremely common and often appears with 怪しい (suspicious, ominous). The expression 雲行きが怪しい can refer to either literal weather or figurative situations going badly.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 雲行きが怪しい (the sky / situation looks threatening)
- 雲行きが変わる (the sky / situation changes)
- 雲行きを見る (to watch the sky / assess the situation)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 動向: trend, developments — more formal and analytical
- 形勢: situation, state of affairs — often used for competitions or battles