English Idiom – Canary in the coal mine (or canary in a coal mine).
An early warning sign of danger or trouble ahead. Something that shows a problem is coming before it affects everyone else.
This idiom comes from real history. Coal miners used to take caged canaries down into the mines. The birds were more sensitive to dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, so if a canary became ill, the miners knew to get out fast. The bird was an early warning system!
Today it’s common in news about the economy, health and the environment: “Falling bee numbers may be a canary in the coal mine for wildlife.”
Example:
- “Small shops closing down could be the canary in the coal mine for the whole high street.”
As featured on Top 10 Animal Idioms!
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Look it upCanary in a coal mineWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An early warning sign that danger or trouble is coming.
Miners took canaries underground because the birds reacted to dangerous gases before people did, giving an early warning.
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