See the writing on the wall

Meaning

To realize that something bad is about to happen or that a situation is inevitably doomed. It is the feeling of spotting the warning signs before everyone else does.

Serious, foreboding

Used in a sentence

• The sales figures were down for months, so I could see the writing on the wall.
• Once the main investor pulled out, we could all see the writing on the wall for the company.
• She saw the writing on the wall and quit before they could lay her off.