English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips> 译通四海> 翻译服务

The writing on the wall

[ 2009-09-11 09:08]     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

The writing on the wall

Chantal Anderson

Reader's question: Bill saw the writing on the wall and resigned his job before he was dismissed. Could you explain “the writing on the wall”?

My comments: The phrase “writing on the wall” originates from a bible story in which writing warns of danger and misfortune. Found in chapter five of Daniel in the bible the story takes place during a feast in which the King of Babylon Belshazzar and his guests witness a hand appear and write a warning on a plaster wall at the party. Daniel interprets it as a bad omen and later that evening the King is slain.

Today the phrase is used to foreshadow a negative event, or action.

Pop group Destiny’s Child (http://www.destinyschild.com/) came out with an album titled “The Writings on the Wall” in 1999, and throughout the album brought up ideas of prefiguring betrayal in relationships to keep with the theme of “the writings on the wall.”

Here are some examples of the phrase: 1) Felicia found marks of another girl’s lip stick on her boyfriend Fernando’s shirt collar and told her best friend Raven about it. Raven told her “the writings on the wall,” so Felicia decided to end the relationship. 2) Word was floating around the office that Flora would soon be fired from her job. She saw the writing on the wall and quit before she was dismissed.

Related readings:

 Set the record straight

About the author:

Chantal Anderson is a multimedia journalist at the China Daily Web site. Originally from Seattle, Washington she has found her way around the world doing photo essays in Greece, Mexico and Thailand. She is currently completing a double degree in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Washington.

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

本文相关阅读

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn