From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishspell trouble/disaster/danger etcspell trouble/disaster/danger etcSHOW/BE A SIGN OFif a situation or action spells trouble etc, it makes you expect trouble etc The lack of rain could spell disaster for farmers. → spell
Examples from the Corpus
spell trouble/disaster/danger etc• After all, one case of the trots hardly spells disaster.• Troubling developments For the reference-service industry, these developments spell trouble.• However, other investors said a difficult Diet session could spell trouble for bonds in the medium-term.• Staff here say that would spell disaster for hundreds of alcoholics.• Delegated authority without a meaningful consultation process would spell disaster for teacher morale, motivation, commitment and hence effectiveness. 