canary
n. countablen. a small, bright yellow bird known for its cheerful singing. You might also hear this word used to describe someone who warns others about danger.
n. a small songbird of the genus Serinus, especially the domesticated yellow variety. In informal usage, it refers to a person or system that provides early warning of trouble or decline.
The canary sings every morning in the kitchen.
The company hired a canary to spot financial risks before they became major problems.
In the dark, silent mines of the past, a caged canary served as a fragile but vital alarm system for invisible, deadly gases.
- 01
canary fit
A highly emotional state of distress, anger, etc.
- 02
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.
- 03
cat that ate the canary
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.