Noun
(countable and uncountable, plural writings on the wall)
- An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck.
- He could see the writing on the wall months before the business failed.
Usage notes
- As an uncountable noun, the phrase alludes to a vague set of ominous indications. As a countable noun, the singular refers to a specific warning.
Origin
From the Biblical story in the Book of Daniel; mysterious writing on the wall during King Belshazzar's feast points to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.
