idiom
Canary in the Coal Mine
kah-NAIR-ee in thuh kohl myn
/kəˈnɛəriː ɪn ðə koʊl maɪn/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
canaryinthecoalmine
Dictionary meaning
An early warning signal of danger or a coming problem; something that alerts others to risk before the full threat becomes apparent
History and origin
Coal miners historically carried caged canaries underground; the birds, being more sensitive to toxic gases, would die before gas levels became dangerous for humans — providing an early warning to evacuate
Examples
- Rising rates of antibiotic-resistant infections are a canary in the coal mine for a potential post-antibiotic era.
- Health system data showing early upticks in respiratory illness served as a canary in the coal mine for the approaching flu season.
Synonyms: early warning sign, sentinel indicator, red flag
People also look up
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UN-der the WETH-er
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