Writing on the wall

“The writing is on the wall” is a phrase used to suggest that a particular situation or outcome is guaranteed, and there’s little that can be done to prevent it. It’s similar to saying that the signs or evidence of something are so apparent that it’s as if the message has been written on a wall for everyone to see. This is often used for something negative.

For example, if a company is consistently losing money, and there are massive layoffs and financial troubles, someone might say, “The writing is on the wall for the company’s bankruptcy.” In this context, it means that the signs of the company’s financial collapse are clear and undeniable.

Tony Bennett sang classic early-20th century songs in the 1960s. But rock-and-roll music became popular and soon the writing was on the wall: Bennett’s style was no longer going to dominate the musical scene.