Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
writing-on-the-wall
idiom
/ˈraɪtɪŋ ˈɒn ðə wɔːl/
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Definition
A phrase used to refer to an omen or a sign that something bad is going to happen.
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Examples
- When the company started losing clients, the writing was on the wall for its future.
- His constant tardiness at work was the writing on the wall that he might lose his job.
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Meaning
Writing on the wall suggests a clear indication or warning of inevitable failure or disaster, often when people fail to recognize the signs.
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Synonyms
- Forewarning
- Omen
- Sign
- Signal