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
The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs was years in the making, so Dantas said the ACOG could see the writing on the wall and was preparing for it.
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Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 10 July 2024
Easley said Citizens could see the writing on the wall, and wanted to be proactive.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Further, Ant founder Jack Ma – the architect of some of its greatest successes as well as its falling out with regulators given his unwillingness to read the writing on the wall – has been forced to relinquish control over the company’s operations.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Other automakers appear to see the writing on the wall, now in a smaller font.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall 
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 10 July 2024
Easley said Citizens could see the writing on the wall, and wanted to be proactive.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
Further, Ant founder Jack Ma – the architect of some of its greatest successes as well as its falling out with regulators given his unwillingness to read the writing on the wall – has been forced to relinquish control over the company’s operations.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
Other automakers appear to see the writing on the wall, now in a smaller font.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'see/read the writing/handwriting 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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“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 20 Sep. 2024.
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