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Handwriting on the Wall

What Does "Handwriting on the Wall" Mean?

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"Handwriting on the wall" is an English idiom. It means "a warning or indication of impending trouble, failure, or negative consequences; a sign or signal that something is about to go wrong."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "handwriting on the wall" used in a sentence:
  • The decline in sales and the departure of key employees were seen as the handwriting on the wall for the struggling company.
  • When the team's star player was injured, it was the handwriting on the wall for their championship aspirations.
  • The sudden drop in stock prices was the handwriting on the wall, prompting investors to sell their shares.
meaning for handwriting on the wall

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Handwriting on the Wall" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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