hit a sour note

hit a sour note

To indicate, introduce, or allude to something particularly unfortunate, unpleasant, or disagreeable. News of my father's passing hit quite a sour note before my graduation ceremony. No one in the family brought attention to David's drinking problem until it started hitting a sour note at their holiday get-togethers.
See also: hit, note, sour
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • strike a sour note
  • sour note
  • vinegar
  • sour
  • sour as vinegar
  • (as) sour as vinegar
  • a sad state (of affairs)
  • drop a hint
  • hint
  • a sorry state (of affairs)
References in periodicals archive
A pounds 1.6m community centre opened in 2004 with a great fanfare has hit a sour note - and could close owing thousands.
pounds 1.6m DRAM CENTRE 'DOOMED' Gas cut off as debts reach pounds 110,000
A ROAD that plays the Lone Ranger theme tune has hit a sour note.
Overture to hit the road; MUSIC
Two years later, the songsters lost pounds 11,000 when a similar event in the USA hit a sour note.
Rise-and-fall Midland choir tells all
MUSIC group Sanctuary hit a sour note yesterday after record release delays led to an 'unacceptable' profits collapse.
Record Business Insider: IN BRIEF - Sanctuary
A top-selling music mag has hit a sour note - by treating Scotland as an overseas country.
Music mag is out of tune