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writing on the wall

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.

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Submitted on July 10, 2018

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Nearby phrases

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wall upwall to wall carpetsthrow enough mud at the wall, some of i…Wall StreetUp Against the Wallthrow enough mud at the wall and some o…stare at the wallthrow one's hat over the wallwall to wallwall of silencestare at the wallwall offthe writing is on the wallwall in

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