signs of defeat; negative turn of events
Used when a situation starts to look unfavorable, especially in sports, battles, or competitions. Often appears in phrases like 敗色が濃い (defeat looks likely).
As the game entered the second half, signs of defeat grew stronger for our team.
The candidate, sensing a negative turn in the election, put all his energy into his final speech.
likely loss; probable defeat
Compound of 敗 (defeat) and 色 (color, sign). The combination conveys the 'color' or appearance of defeat.