🐦 Bird
"Canary in a coal mine"
Meaning
An early sign of danger.
About the bird
Birds move freely and are early risers, so their idioms cover freedom, gossip, and getting a head start.
Example sentence
The quiet classroom was a canary in the coal mine; the teacher knew something was wrong.
Test yourself
Which idiom means...
An early sign of danger.
More bird idioms
BirdIdiom
"Kill two birds with one stone"
To do two useful things with one action.
BirdIdiom
"Eat like a bird"
To eat very little.
BirdIdiom
"The early bird catches the worm"
People who start early often get the best chance.
BirdIdiom
"Birds of a feather flock together"
People with similar interests often become friends.
BirdIdiom
"Ruffle someone's feathers"
To annoy or upset someone.
BirdIdiom
"In the catbird seat"
In a very good or powerful position.