English / proverb
A Straw Shows How the Wind Blows
MEANING IN ENGLISH
Minor gestures, subtle changes, or trivial signs reveal the broader direction of upcoming danger or hidden attitudes
In context
01
His reluctance to look me in the eye during the contract signing was a straw showing how the wind blows.
02
The sudden quietness of senior executives before the merger announcement proved that a straw shows how the wind blows.
Synonyms
straw in the wind,telltale sign,barometer of opinion
Antonyms
complete obscurity,misleading signal
Collocations
as a straw shows how the wind blows,regard as a straw showing how the wind blows,note that a straw shows how the wind blows