Search
Select the dictionary language
the writing is on the wall
01
used to say that there are clear indications or signals that something negative or disastrous is going to happen soon, and that it is likely to be unavoidable
Dialect
![the writing [is] on the wall definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/40917/original/?type=jpeg "the writing [is] on the wall definition and meaning")
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "the writing is on the wall" and when to use it?
The idiom "the writing is on the wall" is believed to have originated in the Bible, where it was said to have been written on the wall during a feast in ancient Babylon as a warning of impending doom. It is often used to describe a situation where there are clear signals or indications that a situation is about to change or that something is about to happen.
Examples
When the company started closing branches, the writing was on the wall.
