straw in the wind（预示某事的）迹象；征兆；风吹草动，这个短语其实是指“某事的一些迹象或征兆”。

【例句】
A recent ruling in Europe may prove a straw in the wind.
欧洲最新的一项裁决或许就是一个风吹草动。

Bill didn't get the promotion and, looking back, I think his very public argument with the boss was a straw in the wind.
比尔没有升职，回想起来，我想他和老板的公开的争辩就是征兆。