sign of the times

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English

Etymology

From Matthew 16:3.[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

sign of the times (plural signs of the times)

  1. (idiomatic) Something that is symbolic of an era.
    • 1903, Henry Stephen Clubb, Thirty-nine reasons why I am a vegetarian:
      Advertisements of health foods now occupy spaces formerly monopolized by quack medicines, a most healthful sign of the times.
    • 2014 July 25, Paul Rees, “‘We got off the coach and the National Front was there … People spat at us’”, in The Guardian:
      We [the black players]’d get off the coach at away matches and the National Front would be right there in your face. In those days, we didn’t have security and we’d have to run the gauntlet. We’d get to the players’ entrance and there’d be spit on my jacket or Cyrille’s shirt. It was a sign of the times.

Translations

See also

References

  1. ^ The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , 1611, →OCLC, Matthew 16:3:O ye hypocrites, yee can discerne the face of the skie, but can ye not discerne the signes of the times?