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
In 1980, when the poster was published, Hongkongers could see the writing on the wall for the British, with talks under way to return sovereignty to the People’s Republic of China.
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H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 6 June 2025
Before many of his peers, CEO Larry Fink managed to read the writing on the wall that climate-conscious investing was falling out of political fashion.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
After Golden State hired Nyanin last May, Thornton then started to see the writing on the wall.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
View Comments Other struggling companies may see the writing on the wall and look to escape the public market during this moment of volatility, analysts say.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
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H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 6 June 2025
Before many of his peers, CEO Larry Fink managed to read the writing on the wall that climate-conscious investing was falling out of political fashion.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 5 June 2025
After Golden State hired Nyanin last May, Thornton then started to see the writing on the wall.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
View Comments Other struggling companies may see the writing on the wall and look to escape the public market during this moment of volatility, analysts say.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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 30 Jun. 2025.
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