canary in a coal mine

The thankless task of being the first one to take a hit, from the practice of coal miners of bringing down a caged canary to see if there's dangerous gas below

I don't know if this alleyway's safe, and I ain't no canary in a coal mine.

by Nick Cusa September 20, 2006

Canary in a coal mine

When you drink moonshine with a chicken wing as your chaser.

Barkeep, can I have a canary in a coal mine, and can you make it boneless?

by twccman June 6, 2022