handwriting on the wall

Idioms

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.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2023

They see the handwriting on the wall with real challengers in their upcoming races.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2018

Of course, also give him some credit for being able to read the handwriting on the wall.

From Washington Times • Mar. 30, 2016

At least they were not before events of the past month so brightly illuminated the handwriting on the wall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2015

Stassen saw the handwriting on the wall: his tenure as Eisenhower’s “secretary of peace” effectively had come to an end.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023