miners' canary
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The wilting plants act as a miners' canary for the dry soil.”
“The sudden drop in local bee populations served as a miners' canary for the environmental health of the entire valley.”
“Economic analysts often view the decline in luxury spending as a miners' canary, signaling a broader and more severe recession on the horizon.”
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canary fit
A highly emotional state of distress, anger, etc.
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canary in a coal mine
Something whose sensitivity to adverse conditions makes it a useful early indicator of such conditions; something which warns of the coming of a greater danger or trouble by a deterioration in its health or welfare.
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cat that ate the canary
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
Last updated August 10, 2026