the shape of things to come
What will happen or become popular in the future. Many profess to know the shape of things to come, but no one truly knows the future.
the shape of things to come
If you say that something is the shape of things to come, you mean that in future things will be like this. British Rail says its new Liverpool Street station is the shape of things to come. People made cruel comments about our relationship. It was, unfortunately, the shape of things to come.
the shape of things to come
the way the future is likely to develop.