The writing on the wall
Meaning
An obvious sign or warning that something bad is likely to happen in the near future.
Origin
The ominous phrase originates from the biblical Book of Daniel, where King Belshazzar of Babylon, during a lavish feast, profanes sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Suddenly, a mysterious disembodied hand appears and writes an incomprehensible message on the palace wall, chilling the king and his courtiers. The prophet Daniel is summoned to interpret the cryptic words, 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin,' revealing a divine prophecy: Belshazzar's reign is numbered, he has been judged and found wanting, and his kingdom will be torn from him and given to the Medes and Persians. True to the prophecy, Belshazzar is slain that very night, cementing the terrifying image of an undeniable, catastrophic warning into our language.
Examples
- The declining sales and shrinking customer base were the writing on the wall for the struggling business.
- After he missed several deadlines and alienated his team, the writing on the wall for his promotion became clear.