The idiom "writing on the wall" means that there are clear signs or indications that something is going to happen, usually something negative or unpleasant. It is often used to describe a situation where the outcome is inevitable and cannot be avoided.
The origin of this idiom comes from the story of the biblical character Belshazzar, who was the king of Babylon. According to the story, during a feast, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the wall that no one could understand. The prophet Daniel was called to interpret the message, which predicted the downfall of the king and his kingdom.
In modern usage, "writing on the wall" is used to describe a situation where there are clear signs that something is going to happen. For example, if a company is losing money and laying off employees, the writing on the wall might be that the company is going to go bankrupt. Or if someone is consistently making bad decisions, the writing on the wall might be that they are going to face negative consequences in the future.
Overall, the idiom "writing on the wall" is used to describe a situation where the outcome is clear and unavoidable, and it is often used to warn someone about a negative situation that they may be facing.
• The writing on the wall was so ominous that even the most optimistic of investors knew it was time to sell.
• There was writing on the wall in the old castle that told the story of its past.
• Despite his denials, the writing on the wall was clear that he was not telling the truth.
• The writing on the wall was a clear indication that the company was in financial trouble.
• I saw the writing on the wall when my boss told me I needed to improve my work.
• The poor sales figures were the writing on the wall that the company needed to make changes.