the writing/handwriting is on the wall
idiom
—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
All the same, some suspect that for this view of quantum mechanics, the writing is on the wall.
—
Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2022
The erratic president, Alexander Lukashenko, might decide the writing is on the wall and suddenly decide to flee, setting off further repercussions.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2023
Already, the handwriting is on the wall: This is not going to well for John Durham, the special counsel appointed to investigate the genesis of the FBI’s Trump–Russia probe.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 11 Oct. 2022
For climate scientists, the writing is on the wall as dead bodies surface at one of the nation’s largest reservoirs that serves water to roughly 20 million people.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022
Sure, no announcement has been made about any potential move by the school, but the handwriting is on the wall.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
For two fellow freshmen House Republicans from New York, Nick LaLota and Anthony D’Esposito, the writing is on the wall for Santos.
—Laura Litvan, Bloomberg.com, 31 Jan. 2023
With high-profile athletes like Rob Gronkowski, Mike Tyson, Al Harrington and Joe Montana attaching their names to cannabis and CBD brands, the writing is on the wall.
—Harrison Wise, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
Republican groups have been quick to jump on Vela’s retirement as proof that the writing is on the wall for the end of a Democratic majority in the House.
—Elizabeth Thompson, Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2021
Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2022
The erratic president, Alexander Lukashenko, might decide the writing is on the wall and suddenly decide to flee, setting off further repercussions.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2023
Already, the handwriting is on the wall: This is not going to well for John Durham, the special counsel appointed to investigate the genesis of the FBI’s Trump–Russia probe.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 11 Oct. 2022
For climate scientists, the writing is on the wall as dead bodies surface at one of the nation’s largest reservoirs that serves water to roughly 20 million people.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022
Sure, no announcement has been made about any potential move by the school, but the handwriting is on the wall.
—Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
For two fellow freshmen House Republicans from New York, Nick LaLota and Anthony D’Esposito, the writing is on the wall for Santos.
—Laura Litvan, Bloomberg.com, 31 Jan. 2023
With high-profile athletes like Rob Gronkowski, Mike Tyson, Al Harrington and Joe Montana attaching their names to cannabis and CBD brands, the writing is on the wall.
—Harrison Wise, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2021
Republican groups have been quick to jump on Vela’s retirement as proof that the writing is on the wall for the end of a Democratic majority in the House.
—Elizabeth Thompson, Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the writing/handwriting is 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.
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the writing/handwriting is on the wall
Cite this Entry
“The writing/handwriting is on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20writing%2Fhandwriting%20is%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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