[Idiom] SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL. - Recognizing Signs of Impending Trouble Early
See the writing on the wall.
to perceive impending failure or disaster
Seeing 'the writing on the wall' means recognizing signs or omens that something bad, specifically failure or disaster, is likely to happen. It originates from the Biblical story of Belshazzar's feast, where a disembodied hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall, foretelling the fall of the king's reign. In modern usage, if someone mentions seeing the writing on the wall, they are hinting that they can perceive the early signs of trouble ahead, encouraging proactive measures or changes to avert the predicted outcome.
Example Sentences
With declining sales, they could see the writing on the wall for the store.
With poor sales, they realized that the store might close soon.
Ignoring the writing on the wall, the company continued with outdated strategies.
Despite clear signs of decline, the company continued using outdated methods.
By observing the market trends, he saw the writing on the wall and decided to pivot.
He noticed market changes and decided to change direction to avoid future problems.