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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

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to writing on the wall

up the wallwall inthrow one's hat over the wallwall of silencestare at the wallWall Streetthrow enough mud at the wall and some o…wall upwall to wallthrow enough mud at the wall, some of i…wall offwall to wall carpetsthe writing is on the wallstare at the wall

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