An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck.

Etymology:

  • From the Biblical story in Daniel 5, where, during a feast held by King Belshazzar, a hand suddenly appears and writes on a wall the following Aramaic words: מְנֵאמְנֵאתְּקֵלוּפַרְסִין. Daniel interprets the words as pointing to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.
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He could see the writing on the wall months before the business failed.

Submitted on July 10, 2018

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    "writing on the wall." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/writing-on-the-wall_26855>.

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