ENGLISH
REFERENCE

handwriting on the wall

idiom
Meaning

Alternative form of writing on the wall


Examples
SIMPLE

The company is failing and everyone sees the handwriting on the wall.

CONTEXTUAL

With sales dropping every month and competitors gaining ground, the manager finally recognized the handwriting on the wall.

COMPLEX

Despite the optimistic speeches from leadership, the declining market share served as clear handwriting on the wall for those paying attention.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    back to the wall

    A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.

  2. 02

    balls to the wall

    With maximum effort or commitment.

  3. 03

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  4. 04

    blue wall of silence

    Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.

  5. 05

    break the fourth wall

    To apparently communicate with reality directly, such as when characters of literature comment on the existence of a reader.

  6. 06

    Chinese Wall

    An information barrier within an organization, designed to ensure internal confidentiality; frequently used to prevent conflicts of interest.

  7. 07

    drive someone up the wall

    To make a person very angry or frustrated; to infuriate.

  8. 08

    fly on the wall

    A quiet, non-participating, or unseen observer; an eavesdropper or witness.

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