writing on the wall
phrase
: an omen or sign of one's unpleasant fate
No one told him he was going to be fired, but he could see the writing on the wall. [=he could see that he was going to be fired soon]
Cite this Entry
“Writing on the wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/writing%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
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