the writing on the wall

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the writing on the wall also the handwriting on the wall

the likelihood that something bad will happen Area residents can see the writing on the wall and realize that if they don't cooperate with the police, these crimes will continue. As leaders, they should have seen the handwriting on the wall and come up with an alternative course of action.

Usage notes: often used with see, as in the examples

Etymology: based on a story in the Bible about Daniel, who reads the handwriting on the wall that predicts the end of the kingdom of Babylon

See also: wall, writing

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Here, while the national prosperity feasts, like another Belshazzar, on the spectacle of its own magnificence, is the Writing on the Wall, which warns the monarch, Money, that his glory is weighed in the balance, and his power found wanting. No Name by Collins, Wilkie View in context			the way things are the wheels are turning the whole ball of wax the whole bit the whole caboodle the whole enchilada the whole kaboodle the whole kit and caboodle the whole nine yards the whole picture the whole shebang the whole shooting match the whys and wherefores The wish is father to the thought the witching hour The wolf is at the door the woman on the street the wooden spoon the works the world and his wife The world is oyster The worm has turned the worse for wear the worst of both worlds the writing is on the wall the writing on the wall the wrong side of the tracks them them and us Them as has, gits Them's fighting words! themselves then again theorize theorize about theorize on theory There are no flies on there are plenty more fish in the sea There are plenty more where came from There are plenty of fish in the sea There are tricks in every trade There are two sides to every question There aren't enough hours in the day There but for the grace of God there is a fine line between There is a remedy for everything except death There is a tide in the affairs of men There is a time and a place for everything There is honor among thieves There is more to than meets the eye			The Woz The Wrapping Machine The Wrath of God The Wrath Of Khan The Wrath of Vesuvius The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald The Wrecking Crew The Wrekin The Wrekin The Wrestling Channel The Wrestling Channel Forums The Wrestling Game The Wrestling News Page The Wrestling Talk The Wrestling Talks Franchise The Wright Brothers The Wright Brothers The Wright Experience The Wright Group Inc. The Wright Stuff The Write Stuff The Writers' Union of Canada The Writing Centre The Writing Instructor the writing is on the wall the writing is on the wall the writing is on the wall the writing is on the wall the writing is on the wall the writing is on the wall the writing on the wall The Writings The Writings The Writings The Writings The Writings the wrong side of the tracks The Wrong Trousers The X Factor The X Files the X that can be Y is not the true X The Xtreme Radio Network The Yacht Harbour Association The Yacht Week The Yalta Conference The Yalta Conference The Yankee Clipper The Yankee Group The Yanomami The Yanomami The year 292,277,026,596 problem The Year of the Network The Year That Trembled The Yellow Black Boys The Yellow Book The Yellow Book The Yellow Book The Yellow Brick Road The Yellow Bus Foundation The Yellow Pages Network The Yellow Race

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