the writing/handwriting is on the wall

phrase

—used to say that it is clear that something bad will probably happen soon

I haven't lost my job yet, but the writing is on the wall: my company just laid off 50 more people today.

Examples of the writing/handwriting is on the wall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the addition of George Pickens and the depth emergence of Ryan Flournoy, the writing is on the wall that Dallas won’t need Tolbert’s services beyond this season. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025

The tariffs may stand temporarily under a stay, but the writing is on the wall. — Brett Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

But now, with less than a week remaining before the trade deadline, Helsley understands the writing is on the wall. — Katie Woo, New York Times, 25 July 2025

But the writing is on the wall that Destiny 2 must, shift into a lower-scale production mode. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

The first Messy Points distribution goes uneventfully, with a point awarded to each non-lipsyncing queen, but the writing is on the wall that Ginger now has a target on her back. — Chris Feil, Vulture, 20 June 2025