To read the writing on the wall
Meaning
To recognize the obvious signs of a future event, especially an impending disaster or failure.
Origin
King Belshazzar of Babylon, in a defiant act, hosted a lavish feast using sacred gold and silver vessels plundered from the Temple in Jerusalem. As the revelry reached its peak, a terrifying sight seized the court: a disembodied hand materialized, its ghostly fingers inscribing mysterious words upon the palace wall. Terror-stricken, the king desperately sought an interpretation from his wise men, but none could decipher the ominous script. Finally, the prophet Daniel was summoned. With chilling clarity, Daniel revealed the writing's meaning: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin," a divine judgment proclaiming Belshazzar's kingdom weighed, found wanting, and destined to be divided. That very night, the prophecy was fulfilled: Belshazzar was slain, and his empire fell, cementing the phrase as a stark warning of inevitable doom.
Examples
- After several key employees resigned and sales plummeted, the CEO knew it was time to read the writing on the wall and consider drastic changes.
- Even though he tried to ignore the mounting debt and dwindling customer base, the owner eventually had to read the writing on the wall and accept that his business was failing.