writing on the wall

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The state’s political leaders saw the writing on the wall: With the demographic shift, the ratio of family caregivers to aging parents was set to decline from 7:1 in 2010 to 3:1 in 2050.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Everyone young, entrepreneurial and educated saw the writing on the wall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

DraftKings has seen the writing on the wall.

From Barron's • Oct. 22, 2025

“I didn’t feel like it was being handled appropriately, and I kind of saw the writing on the wall, that it was something DEA was trying to brush under the rug,” Doherty said in court.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

West Virginia’s Governor Homer Holt saw the writing on the wall: the choice was to integrate or, like its neighbor to the east, dig in and contest the ruling.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly