straw in the wind
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
straw in the wind
A minor event or action that predicts or foreshadows a future event. His negative remark about marriage was a straw in the wind that suggested he was headed for a divorce. Bill didn't get the promotion and, looking back, I think his very public argument with the boss was a straw in the wind.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
straw in the wind
A slight hint of the future, as in The public unrest is a straw in the wind indicating future problems for the regime. This expression alludes to a straw showing in what direction the wind blows, an observation also behind the idiom straw vote.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
a straw in the wind
BRITISH, JOURNALISMIf an event is a straw in the wind, it is a sign of the way in which a situation may develop. There is some evidence that the economy is starting to climb out of recession. The latest straw in the wind is a pick-up in sales among the nation's retail giants. These were straws in the wind, a foretaste of what was to come. Note: People sometimes drop pieces of straw in order to see which way they move as they fall, so that they can tell which way the wind is blowing.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
a straw in the wind
a slight but significant hint of future developments.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
a straw in the ˈwind
(British English) an unimportant incident or piece of information which shows you what might happen in the future: Journalists are always looking for straws in the wind.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
straw in the wind
A slight hint of something to come.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.