the writing on the wall
clear signs of impending failure or change
In Spanish
clear signs of impending failure or change
Examples
- I saw the writing on the wall and left before the company collapsed.
- The team's poor performance was the writing on the wall for the coach's future.
- When the sales figures dropped, we all saw the writing on the wall for the product line.
When it's used
This idiom is used to indicate that there are clear signs something is going to fail or change. It is common in both speech and writing and is used in situations where negative outcomes are evident to those who pay attention. It ranges from neutral to formal in register.
The common mistake
A common mistake is to translate it literally from the Spanish 'la escritura en la pared', which does not make sense in English. It is also easy to misuse it in contexts where there is no imminent change or obvious failure.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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