idiom
the writing is on the wall
thuh RY-ting iz on thuh WAWL
ðə ˈraɪtɪŋ ɪz ɒn ðə wɔːlListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
thewritingisonthewall
Dictionary meaning
There are clear signs that something bad or difficult is going to happen; the evidence of future misfortune is already visible.
History and origin
From the Biblical story of Belshazzar's feast (Daniel 5), where a hand wrote on the wall predicting the king's downfall.
Examples
- The writing was on the wall when the company's biggest client didn't renew their contract.
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