in the wind

1. Likely to occur, as in “He knew Gattis had guessed what was in the wind and was pretty unhappy about it” (Clive Egleton, A Different Drummer, 1985). This metaphoric expression alludes to perceiving something being brought or blown by the wind. [Late 1500s] Also see get wind of; something in the wind.

Example Sentences

Blue-and-white Israeli flags fluttered in the wind, as mourners held the young lieutenant's portrait alongside a homemade banner reading: "We will remember forever."

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Radioactive atoms stuck to the coral dust, drifted in the wind, and dropped from the sky as deadly fallout on the Lucky Dragon.

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It gently waved in the wind, and spread out as far as they could see.

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They reached out their arms to represent the branches, and wiggle their fingers like leaves in the wind.

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Sometimes, the group said, it would see vehicles with no plates, or plates blacked out with electrical tape, or temporary paper plates that just so happened to tear off in the wind.

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Related Words

• forthcoming 
• immediate 
• impending 
• inevitable 
• likely 
• looming 
• possible 
• probable 
• unavoidable