"an angel passes"

Is this phrase, used when this a moment of awkward silence (especially unexpected), still current in English? My friend insist that I should remove it from a text I've written because she's never heard it. I meant to translate the still very current French "Un ange passe", which is translated so according to my French-English dictionary. In any case, if you have a better suggestion...

ETA: Well, thanks for the comments, all. I've reworked my stuff with those in mind.