BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
26 February 2013
The writing is on the wall
FX football match
Rob: (excited, watching the match on TV) No! No! Don't pass the ball to him!
Vera: (sitting with young Dominic, writing and drawing) Rob is so loud! That's a
lovely drawing, Dominic!
Dominic: (speaks while drawing) Thank you, mummy! This is a balloon and the letter
B! And this is&
Vera: (nice, mummy's voice) And this is a boat, isn't it?
Dominic: (outraged) No! This is a ball, to play football! Can't you see?!
Vera: (Sigh) Hi. I am Vera and this is Dominic.
Dominic: (proud) & and I am five! I'm a big boy now!
Vera: And Rob is over there, watching TV, supporting his (ironic, because the
team is bad) team.
Rob: (frustrated) Arrrrghhhh! They're going to lose!
Vera: And Dominic is learning to write&
FX football match - goal
Rob: (frustrated) Oh nooooo! They've lost another goal! The writing is on the
wall now!
Vera: Oh, no, writing on the wall? My nice and clean wall?! (angry with Dominic)
Dominic, have you written on the wall? Naughty boy!
Rob: No, no, no - there's nothing written on your wall, Vera! In English, we use
the expression 'the writing is on the wall' when we want to say that
something bad is going to happen to something or someone and there isn't
much you can do about it. Like my football team. If it loses this match it is
out of the championship.
Vera: So there is nothing written on the beautiful, clean walls of my brand new
apartment?
Rob: No. Here are some examples of how you can use this expression.
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Examples
My auntie is really sad because she had to close her shop. To be honest, the writing has
been on the wall for her business for a long time.
You know Mary. She's a party girl that loves the city but I heard her husband is shy and
has always wanted to live on a farm. The writing is definitely on the wall for their
marriage.
I haven't studied hard this year and I have been doing badly in exams. My teachers told
me if I don't try harder the writing is on the wall.
Vera: So that's what this expression is used for: to indicate that something will
end up badly. Well, at least my walls are ok. They are nice and clean!
Dominic is still a good boy!
FX sound of goal
Rob: Gooooooal! Finally!
FX glass breaking
Rob: Oh, sorry Vera. Your walls are free of writing but your carpet is flooded with
wine. Sorry. I've just knocked my glass on the floor by accident and there
is a big stain&
Vera: (a bit agitated, disappointed) Oh Rob is the bad boy now! My beautiful
carpet!
Rob: Red wine, white carpet& (embarrassed) The writing was on the wall for this
one. Sorry. And bye&
Vera: (upset) Bye Rob. (mourning) Bye carpet.
Dominic: (Cheerful, having an eureka moment) Carpet!? I want to write on the
carpet!
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