Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Editorial Guides For "writing on the wall"

Affect vs Effect: Quick Rules and Real Examples

Learn when to use affect or effect in academic, business, and everyday writing.

However vs Nevertheless: Tone, Flow, and Precision

Choose the right transition for clarity and tone in essays, reports, and persuasive writing.

Writing on the wall

//ˈɹaɪtɪŋ ɒn ðə ˈwɔːl// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck. countable, idiomatic, uncountable

    "He could see the writing on the wall months before the business failed."

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: מְנֵא מְנֵא תְּקֵל וּפַרְסִין (mənē mənē təqēl ūp̄arsīn, “numbered, numbered, weighed, and they are divided”) (Daniel 5:25). Daniel interprets the words as pointing to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.

See also for "writing on the wall"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.