handwriting on the wall

Idioms  

1. Also, writing on the wall. A warning or presentiment of danger, as in The company was losing money, and seeing the handwriting on the wall, she started to look for another job. This expression comes from the Bible (Daniel 5:5–31), in which the prophet interprets some mysterious writing that a disembodied hand has inscribed on the palace wall, telling King Belshazzar that he will be overthrown.

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Example Sentences

The transfer to Turkey happened, Eugen Merzbacher told me, because his father’s bosses “saw the handwriting on the wall.”

From Los Angeles Times

Once the Texas Supreme Court issued its stay last Friday, Ms. Cox saw the handwriting on the wall.

From Salon

But they could read the handwriting on the wall from the UAW’s contract settlements.

From Los Angeles Times

Michael Cohen saw the handwriting on the wall.

From Salon

Bohn assured that the move was “about way more than resources,” but he saw the handwriting on the wall when Texas and Oklahoma announced last summer that they were leaving the Big 12 — for real, this time — for the Southeastern Conference.

From Los Angeles Times