writing on the wall

Etymology


From the Biblical story in Daniel 5, where, during a feast held by King, a hand suddenly appears and writes on a wall the following Aramaic words: (Daniel 5:25). Daniel interprets the words as pointing to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.

Noun

 * 1)  An ominous warning; a prediction of bad luck.

Usage notes
As an uncountable noun, the phrase alludes to a vague set of ominous indications. As a countable noun, the singular refers to a specific warning.

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin: 厄运的征兆
 * Danish: skriften på væggen
 * Finnish: vaaran merkit
 * German:
 * Italian:, , ,
 * Norwegian:
 * Bokmål: mene tekel, skriften på veggen
 * Nynorsk: mene tekel, skrifta på veggen
 * Spanish: