canary in a coal mine

English - English

Definition of canary in a coal mine in English English dictionary

A warning of danger or trouble yet to come

Hyphenation

ca·na·ry in a coal mine

Turkish pronunciation

kıneri în ı kōl mayn

Synonyms

miner's canary

Pronunciation

/kəˈnerē ən ə ˈkōl ˈmīn/ /kəˈnɛriː ɪn ə ˈkoʊl ˈmaɪn/

Etymology

() An allusion to caged canaries mining workers would carry down into the tunnels with them. If poisonous gases such as methane or carbon monoxide leaked into the mine-shaft, the gases would kill the canary before killing the miners.