read the runes idiom UK literary
看清未来的趋势;掌握未来的态势
to understand what will happen in the future, by looking at what is happening now
He was the first of the Eastern leaders to read the runes and make political changes to stay in power. 他是第一个看清了未来发展趋势并为继续掌权进行政治改革的东欧国家领导人。