sign of the times

From Matthew 16:3.[1]

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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.

• zeitgeist