How to Pronounce "read the handwriting on the wall"
expression
RED (or REED) thuh (or thee) HAN-drye-ting awn (or on) thuh (or thee) WAHL
REED thuh (or thee) HAN-drye-ting on thuh (or thee) WAWL
Definition
To recognize signs that something bad or inevitable is going to happen.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɹɛd/, /ˈɹid/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈhænˌdɹaɪtɪŋ/ /ˈɑn/, /ˈɔn/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈwɔɫ
British English
ɹiːd/ /ðə, ði/ /hˈændɹaɪtɪŋ/ /ˈɒn/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈɔːl
Simplified Pronunciation
US
RED (or REED) thuh (or thee) HAN-drye-ting awn (or on) thuh (or thee) WAHL
UK
REED thuh (or thee) HAN-drye-ting on thuh (or thee) WAWL
Listen in Context
She could read the handwriting on the wall and knew the company would close soon.
If you read the handwriting on the wall, you will see the project is failing.
The players could read the handwriting on the wall and knew they would lose the game.
Most employees could read the handwriting on the wall and started looking for new jobs.