Foreshadowing

noun a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The handwriting on the wall clearly indicated that the company was facing financial ruin.
• I saw the handwriting on the wall when my boss started hiring new employees for my department.
• Once I saw the handwriting on the wall, I knew it was time to start looking for a new job.
• The sudden drop in sales was the handwriting on the wall for the failing business.

noun a sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen

• The dark clouds gathering in the sky were seen as a portent of an impending storm.
• Seeing a black cat cross your path is often considered a portent of bad luck.
• The sudden chill in the air was a real portent that something was about to go down.
• The sudden drop in stock prices was a portent of the economic downturn ahead.