The Writing is on the wall




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The Writing is on the wall : Phrases



Meaning:

One can see the inevitable result of circumstances.


Example:

Graffiti artists know their works by the handwriting on the walls.


Origin:

In a Babylonian legend, evil King Belshazzar drank from a sacred vessel, looted from the Temple in Jerusalem. According to one version, a mysterious hand appeared after this act of sacrilege and, to the astonishment of the king, wrote 4 strange words on the banquet room wall. Only the Hebrew prophet (Daniel) could interpet the mysterious message. He boldly told the ruler that they spelled disaster for him and for his nation. Soon afterward, Belshazzar was defeated and slain. During the Middle Ages, the scene was a popular subject for tapestries and paintings.





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