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- meaning and origin of ‘canary in the coal mine’ – word histories
It refers to the former practice of taking live canaries into coal mines to test for the presence of toxic gases, particularly carbon monoxide, the illness or death of the canaries serving as an indication that such gases were present
- What is a canary in a coal mine? - English Language Usage Stack . . .
A canary in a coal mine is an advanced warning of some danger The metaphor originates from the times when miners used to carry caged canaries while at work; if there was any methane or carbon monoxide in the mine, the canary would die before the levels of the gas reached those hazardous to humans
- What Happened to the Canary in the Coal Mine? The Story of How the Real . . .
Throughout much of the 20th century, chirping canaries were staples of the coal mining industry As coal miners descended into the earth—entering a harsh environment often home to poisonous
- CANARY IN A COALMINE - Cambridge English Dictionary
something that gives an early warning of danger or failure, in the way that, in the past, a canary taken into a mine (= an underground place for digging coal or minerals) would die if the air was not safe to breathe, warning the people working there:
- Understanding the Idiom: canary in a coal mine - Meaning, Origins . . .
The phrase “canary in a coal mine” is an idiom that has been used for centuries to describe a warning sign or an early indicator of danger This expression comes from the practice of using canaries to detect toxic gases in coal mines
- The Dark History Behind the Phrase ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’
Any early warning sign can be a canary in a coal mine But the original meaning was more specific
- Canary in a Coal Mine - Definition, Meaning, and Examples
The phrase “canary in a coal mine” refers to an early warning of potential danger Historically, miners used to carry canaries into coal mines because these birds are sensitive to toxic gases
- “Canary in the Coal Mine” is a Phrase With a True History Behind It
This is where the popular phrase “canary in the coal mine”, used to describe an indication of an upcoming danger, actually comes from Coal miners face a number of dangers when they enter a mine, ranging from explosions and cave-ins to being exposed to poisonous gases like carbon monoxide
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