the handwriting on the wall

Cultural  

1. A phrase recalling an Old Testament story about Daniel. While a king was holding the Jews (see also Jews) captive in the foreign land of Babylon (see also Babylon), in the sixth century b.c., a mysterious hand appeared, writing on the wall of the king's palace. The king called upon Daniel, who interpreted it to mean that God intended the king and his kingdom to fall. The king was slain that night.

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Figuratively, the expression means that some misfortune is impending: “His firing came as no surprise; he'd seen the handwriting on the wall months before.”

Example Sentences

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the handwriting on the wall

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2023

Black can see the handwriting on the wall after 41…Bxb6 42.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 14, 2021

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

From New York Times ● Apr. 4, 2018

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