Writing on the Wall

What Does "Writing on the Wall" Mean?

"Writing on the wall" is an English idiom. It means "a clear and obvious indication or warning of future problems or failure, often used to describe a situation where the signs are hard to ignore."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "writing on the wall" used in a sentence:

• The decline in sales and the loss of key clients were the writing on the wall for the struggling company.
• She realized that the constant arguments were the writing on the wall for her relationship.
• The team's poor performance during the season was the writing on the wall that changes were needed.

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 "Writing 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.

A Quick Test

You now know what "writing on the wall" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see! Show Instructions