see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
idiom
: to be aware that something bad will probably happen soon
No one told him he was going to be fired, but he could see the writing on the wall.
Examples of see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further, Ant founder Jack Ma – the architect of some of its greatest successes as well as its falling out with regulators given his unwillingness to read the writing on the wall – has been forced to relinquish control over the company’s operations.
—
Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Other automakers appear to see the writing on the wall, now in a smaller font.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2024
Aluminum producers such as Alcoa see the writing on the wall too.
—Byannie Sartor, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
But those close to Belichick see the writing on the wall.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Detmers read the writing on the wall and stopped working on the sculpture in 2000.
—Curbed, 10 Aug. 2023
Pope Francis should see the writing on the wall and revise the Holy See’s China policy.
—Nina Shea, National Review, 6 Aug. 2023
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of Bud Light, began to see the writing on the wall a decade ago.
—J. Edward Moreno, New York Times, 28 July 2023
At Center Theatre Group, CEO Meghan Pressman said the large size of the organization allowed leaders to see the writing on the wall earlier than other theaters.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 July 2023
Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Other automakers appear to see the writing on the wall, now in a smaller font.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2024
Aluminum producers such as Alcoa see the writing on the wall too.
—Byannie Sartor, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
But those close to Belichick see the writing on the wall.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Detmers read the writing on the wall and stopped working on the sculpture in 2000.
—Curbed, 10 Aug. 2023
Pope Francis should see the writing on the wall and revise the Holy See’s China policy.
—Nina Shea, National Review, 6 Aug. 2023
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the maker of Bud Light, began to see the writing on the wall a decade ago.
—J. Edward Moreno, New York Times, 28 July 2023
At Center Theatre Group, CEO Meghan Pressman said the large size of the organization allowed leaders to see the writing on the wall earlier than other theaters.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
Cite this Entry
“See/read the writing/handwriting on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/see%2Fread%20the%20writing%2Fhandwriting%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share