sign of the times

American  

[sahyn uhv thuh tahymz] / ˈsaɪn əv ðə ˈtaɪmz /

idiom

1. an event, action, etc., that reveals an important trend in the culture, economy, or environment.

   I’m seeing a lot more cyclists on my commute—must be a sign of the times, or maybe just gas prices.

   The people I talk to don’t see these layoffs as a reflection on the company, but rather a sign of the times.

2. Christianity. an event that seems to fulfill prophecy, especially prophecy relating to the Judgment or the return of Jesus Christ.

   In his book about life in the last days before the Second Coming, he lists many signs of the times apparent in our generation.

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Etymology

Origin of sign of the times

First recorded in 1520–30

Example Sentences

But she knows it’s a sign of the times.

From Slate

In a sign of the times, Reid said much of the heavy lifting that went into creating this chart was handled by ChatGPT — OpenAI’s chatbot that kicked off the AI race three years ago.

From MarketWatch

She said Tarves could not stand still, explaining: "It's a sign of the times. Much as we love our wee village, that is not sustainable."

From BBC

That other businesses, too, are reviving deals is a sign of the times.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, the car tax’s resurfacing as an issue was a sign of the times, Rozell added, as it’s yet another expense for cost-conscious voters.

From MarketWatch