writing on the wall
English
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
writing on the wall
- /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ ɒn ðə ˈwɔːl/ UK
- /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ ɑn ðə ˈwɔl/ US
- [ˈɹaɪ̯ɾɪŋ] US
Where it comes from
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.
noun writings on the wall · writings on walls · handwriting on the wall
- An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck. He could see the writing on the wall months before the business failed.
Translations
Every language
noun ominous warning
| 中文 | 厄运的征兆 |
|---|---|
| Português | estar com os dias contados |
| Deutsch | Menetekel |
| Italiano | pronostico, presagio, premonizione, predizione |
Talk about this word "writing on the wall." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/writing%20on%20the%20wall. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. writing on the wall. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/writing%20on%20the%20wall "writing on the wall." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/writing%20on%20the%20wall.Cite this
@misc{writing_on_the_wall_2026,
title = {writing on the wall},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/writing%20on%20the%20wall},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
