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handwriting on the wall

hand·writ·ing on the wall
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hand-rahy-ting on, awn stressed th ee wawl]
    • /ˈhændˌraɪ tɪŋ ɒn, ɔn stressed ði wɔl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hand-rahy-ting on, awn stressed th ee wawl]
    • /ˈhændˌraɪ tɪŋ ɒn, ɔn stressed ði wɔl/

Definitions of handwriting on the wall words

  • noun handwriting on the wall writing done with a pen or pencil in the hand; script. 1
  • noun handwriting on the wall a style or manner of writing by hand, especially that which characterizes a particular person; penmanship: an eccentric handwriting. 1
  • noun handwriting on the wall a handwritten document; manuscript. 1
  • idioms handwriting on the wall handwriting on the wall, a premonition, portent, or clear indication, especially of failure or disaster: The company had ignored the handwriting on the wall and was plunged into bankruptcy. Also, writing on the wall. 1
  • noun handwriting on the wall (Idiomatic) alternative form of writing on the wall A divine prediction or sentence to fate. 0
See all 5 definitions of handwriting on the wall

Information block about the term

Origin of handwriting on the wall

First appearance:

before 1375
One of the 22% oldest English words
1375-1425; late Middle English hand writyng; see hand + writing

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Handwriting on the wall

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Handwriting on the wall

handwriting on the wall popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 92% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

handwriting on the wall usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for handwriting on the wall

noun handwriting on the wall

  • warning — the act or utterance of one who warns or the existence, appearance, sound, etc., of a thing that warns.
  • writing on the wall — writing done with a pen or pencil in the hand; script.
  • forewarning — to warn in advance.
  • inevitability — unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary: an inevitable conclusion.
All 4 Synonyms of handwriting on the wall

See also

Matching words

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