voluntary canary

A voluntary canary is someone who makes a sacrifice, often publicly, in support of a personal or professional value yet stays in the situation instead of leaving. Like a canary in a coal mine, s/he is exposed to whatever happens. Unlike the canary, s/he does it voluntarily. And, it happens to rhyme.

Berkeley's Earth & Atmospheric Science Department canceled a lecture because of the invited scientist's political views. David Romps resigned from his chairmanship in protest but stayed at the school. He became a voluntary canary! We need more profs like that. Let's see if he survives in Berkeley's woke academic coal mine.

by Hugo de Naranja October 19, 2021

Voluntary Dutch Oven

When your person farts under the blanket either while your sleeping or awake. Then proceeds to say to you "Do you smell that? It smells like shit!" And of course being partially out of it you sniff it up ffs.

Girlfriend "What Is that smell? It smells like shit" Boyfriend "eeewwww it does smell like shit" was themat a Voluntary Dutch Oven

by Ass Rippa September 23, 2022

voluntary torture

Doing something that hurts willingly, like getting your eyebrows done.

“Istg, getting your eyebrows done is the definition of voluntary torture!”

by Linn0289 October 20, 2022

voluntary bang up

Being too scared to leave your prison cell to go on the exercise yard or landing, so you stay in your cell as much as possible.

‘Yo I heard he was riding voluntary bang up in the wok house’
‘ What a neek’

by drillerfromthemsides February 23, 2024

Nolanary

Today, in my point of view, there are no one left who haven't watched one of the movies of Christopher Nolan and whenever we start talking about these movies, one thing that comes to mind is mystery ending of movies. So, the definition of this word is: A narrative style or storytelling device that concludes with intentional ambiguity, leaving interpretation up to the audience’s imagination.

“That film’s ending was so Nolanary — I don’t know whether to be satisfied or haunted.”

“Writers should take notes from Nolanary storytelling. Give the audience credit for thinking.”

“This book goes full Nolanary at the end — no clean answers, just layered meaning.”

by Abdulhamid July 6, 2025

Nighttime Voluntary Self-pissing

The act of pissing your pants in bed rather than walking down a dark hallway at night to risk being attack by a demon or other entity. (Springtrap is also a common one) Probably the most common childhood fear

Liam: Ay remember when we were kids and we kinda just accepted our fate and pissed ourselves cause we were afraid of Springtrap or Shane Dawson videos or some shit in the hallway? What would you call that?

Jackson: Nighttime Voluntary Self-pissing

by giddyburger4000 December 2, 2023