0914 The writing's on the wall

Explanation

An idiom meaning that there are clear signs or indications that something bad, unfortunate, or disastrous is going to happen.
It implies that failure, doom, or an unpleasant outcome is imminent and obvious if one pays attention.

Origin

Comes from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament of the Bible (Daniel 5).
During a feast held by King Belshazzar of Babylon, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote cryptic words (Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin) on the palace wall.
The prophet Daniel was called to interpret the writing, explaining it as a divine judgment predicting the fall of Belshazzar and his kingdom. That very night, Belshazzar was killed and Babylon was conquered.
Thus, the writing on the wall became a metaphor for clear, ominous signs of impending doom or failure.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

It's going down. (Implies an event, often negative, is about to happen)
Game over. (Implies finality, failure)
The ship is sinking. (Metaphor for imminent failure of an organization or project)

Milder/More Direct:

The indicators are negative.
The outlook is bleak.
Failure seems likely.

Situational Appropriateness

Appropriate in informal, semi-formal, and sometimes formal contexts, especially when discussing trends, business, politics, or relationships where signs point to a negative outcome.
Carries a sense of finality and pessimism.

Misunderstanding Warnings

Learners unfamiliar with the Biblical story won't grasp the origin, but the meaning (clear signs of doom) is usually understandable from context. Emphasize it refers to *obvious signs* of impending *negative* events.

Examples

With falling profits and key staff leaving, the writing was on the wall for the company long before it went bankrupt.
They kept arguing constantly. The writing was on the wall for their relationship.
Seeing the massive troop buildup, the writing was on the wall regarding the impending invasion.

Dialogue

Employee A: Did you hear the latest round of budget cuts? And they've stopped all new hiring.

Employee B: Yeah... combined with the rumors about selling off assets, I think the writing's on the wall. Major layoffs are coming.

Employee A: I was afraid of that. The signs are all there.

Response Patterns

Agreement/Resignation: Yeah, I see it too. / It looks inevitable. / It was only a matter of time.
Sadness/Regret: It's a shame. / I wish it weren't true.
Denial/Hope: Maybe things will turn around? / Are you sure it's that bad?
Inquiry: What specific signs do you see?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

People might ask for the specific signs or evidence (What makes you say the writing's on the wall?).
The conversation might turn to discussing the inevitable outcome or potential ways to mitigate it (though the phrase implies it's often too late).
People might express sadness or concern about the impending negative event.

Conversation Starter

No. It's a comment on existing signs pointing towards a negative future event.

Intonation

Often said with a tone of resignation, grim certainty, or sad realization.
Stress typically falls on writing, on, and wall.
Example: The WRITING'S on the WALL.

Generation Differences

Widely understood across generations, though the Biblical origin might be less known among younger people who still understand the idiomatic meaning.

Regional Variations

Universal in English-speaking countries.

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[0914] The writing's on the wall