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
Perhaps network executives see the writing on the wall.
—
Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
No doubt this wasn’t helped by the fact that the show's novelty had worn off and, to his credit, Dong-hyuk could see the writing on the wall.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Mateo Joseph could probably read the writing on the wall.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Casey adds that despite the album’s tenor, the Murphys did not see the writing on the wall during the fall.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
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Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
No doubt this wasn’t helped by the fact that the show's novelty had worn off and, to his credit, Dong-hyuk could see the writing on the wall.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2025
Mateo Joseph could probably read the writing on the wall.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Casey adds that despite the album’s tenor, the Murphys did not see the writing on the wall during the fall.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 3 July 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 31 Aug. 2025.
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