Dictionary

sign of the times en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From Matthew 16:3.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Something that is symbolic of an era.
   • 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. 2014 July 25, Paul Rees, “‘We got off the coach and the National Front was there … People spat at us’”, in The Guardian:
   • Advertisements of health foods now occupy spaces formerly monopolized by quack medicines, a most healthful sign of the times. 1903, Henry Stephen Clubb, Thirty-nine reasons why I am a vegetarian:

Forms

Relateds

zeitgeist

Translations (8)

ru приме́та вре́мени (symbol of an era) · sv tidstecken (symbol of an era) · cmn 時代的標誌 /时代的标志 (symbol of an era) · de Zeichen der Zeit (symbol of an era) · es signo de los tiempos (symbol of an era) · de Zeitzeichen (symbol of an era) · pl znak czasów (symbol of an era) · fi ajan merkki (symbol of an era)