writing\ on\ the\ wall

writing\ on\ the\ wall
• writing on the wall
• handwriting on the wall
n. phr. literary
1. A warning; a message of some urgency.

"this nuclear plant is about to explode, I think," the chief engineer said. "We'd better get out of here in a hurry, the handwriting is on the wall."

2. A sign that something bad will happen.

When Bill's team lost four games in a row, he saw the handwriting on the wall.

John's employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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