have (something) written all over it
phrase
informal
: to show a certain characteristic very clearly
That proposal had "failure" written all over it.
Cite this Entry
“Have (something) written all over it.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20%28something%29%20written%20all%20over%20it. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
