see coming

English edit

see coming (third-person singular simple present sees coming, present participle seeing coming, simple past saw coming, past participle seen coming)

(informal, of a thing, person, or occurrence) To notice in advance, especially to recognise as a threat or problem; to foresee.
The foul ball hit me on the head. I didn't see it coming.

You're a perfect hitman; you look like a regular guy. Nobody sees you coming.

My pension plan went broke. I didn't see that development coming.
- 2014, Ingrid Michaelson, Trent Dabbs, busbee, “Time Machine”, in Lights Out‎^[1], performed by Ingrid Michaelson:
  I should've seen it coming / It should've sent me running / That's what I get for loving you-oo-oo...
- 2022 August 24, Kevin Roose, “We Need to Talk About How Good A.I. Is Getting”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:
  And tech-savvy propagandists could use the technology to churn out targeted misinformation on a vast scale, distorting the political process in ways we won't see coming.
- 2022 September 23, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Friday, Sep 23, 2022:
  "'Effectively accelerates your own healing'... yeah, I should've seen this coming." "So I'm not burnt out?! I can use my magic again?!" "Um, I think so, but..."
(informal, of a person) To recognise (someone) as a potential victim to swindle or otherwise deceive.
You were charged $1,000 for a car wash? They must have seen you coming!

notice in advance; foresee