sign of the times

sign of the times

Something regarded, usually negatively, as emblematic of the current time period. Nobody looks up from their mobile phones anymore. I guess it's just a sign of the times.
See also: of, sign, times
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sign of the times

something that signifies the situation evident in the current times. Your neighbor's unmowed grass is just a sign of the times. Nobody really cares any longer.
See also: of, sign, times
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

a sign of the times

COMMON If you say that something is a sign of the times, you mean that it shows what life is like now. The fact that no aircraft has been built even to match Concorde, is a rather depressing sign of the times. It was a sign of the times that Clare's skinny body was considered the look of the moment. Note: This expression is often used to suggest that life is becoming worse.
See also: of, sign, times
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

sign of the times

something typical of the nature or quality of a particular period, typically something undesirable.
See also: of, sign, times
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(be) a ˌsign of the ˈtimes

something that shows the way the world is changing: Seventy per cent of last year’s graduates are still unemployed — a sign of the times, I’m afraid.
See also: of, sign, times
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

sign of the times, a

Typical of a particular period, notably the present. This term appears in the Bible. When the Pharisees asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven, he replied, “O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3). Many centuries later, historian Arnold J. Toynbee wrote (The World and the West, 1953), “The people who have read the signs of the times and have taken action . . . are the obscure missionaries of half-a-dozen Oriental religions.”
See also: of, sign
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a sign of the times
  • sign of the times, a
  • be a sign of the times
  • play Old Harry with (something)
  • count against
  • count against (one)
  • personally
  • take (something) personally
  • take personally
  • take something personally
References in periodicals archive
Former Oasis band member Noel Gallagher ripped into Styles and Sign Of The Times during an interview, which he suggested: 'quite frankly, my cat could've written it in about 10 minutes'.
Harry does it with style
'Sign of the Times' came from 'This isn't the first time we've been in a hard time, and it's not going to be the last time,'" he explained.
Harry Styles Releases 'Sign Of The Times' Music Video
Apart from a one-line posting on his Twitter account which reads 'Sign of the Times is out now,' no mention has been made of the single or of achieving his first solo number one.
With Styles, success that appeared to be a failure
"It is a sign of the times. There is absolutely no patience in the world now."
Scolari's sacking from Chelsea shocks Sir Alex
HOW'S this for a sign of the times? I am enjoying the luxury of staying
Football: Fun in the sun
In another sign of the times, the Justice Department appointed its first federal prosecutor in charge of export control enforcement.
Arms suppliers to get tighter scrutiny
Sign of the times: proudly showing off his handiwork and possibly the finest sign erected indicating the four-mile distance to Liverpool Lime Street from Allerton for passengers, is porter Leonard Lees in September, 1959, when a day return was one shilling.
TIME OUT: LOOKING BACK
Such corporate tales as these are perhaps a true sign of the times. Believe in the activity and live the life, or worship in a corporate temple of your choosing.
Pouring time
There's something vaguely sad about all this, a luxuriating in impasse that might be an especially telling sign of the times.
Lisa Caccioppoli: Threewalls
"I think that's another sign of the times, certainly when you look at the message being sent by the Republicans at the national level," Marty Wiseman, director of Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute for Government, told the Associated Press.
Miss. lawmakers plan to post Sermon on the Mount in public buildings
"It really is a sad sign of the times that CCTV cameras are needed in a Church."
Church puts in cameras
It is a sign of the times that one of the more frequent categories of legislation was the delineation of reemployment rights for National Guard and other personnel called to active duty.
The January Review
So perhaps it's simply a sign of the times that Brent Scowcroft, chairman of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board--and national security adviser under Bush I--has been moved from his office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, across the driveway from the West Wing, to digs in the New Executive Office Building (NEOB), a block farther away.
In Washington, geographic proximity to power is a measure of power itself
In a sign of the times, the show floor was smaller, conference attendance seemed to be down, and new companies were near impossible to find.
Inching along. (editor's Letter)
As perhaps a sign of the times, 700 senior financial executives crammed the 21st annual Conference on Corporate Reporting Issues November 4-5 in New York City -- breaking FEI attendee records.
Current financial reporting issues. (Conferences)