the canary 

Someone that you let go first to make sure it is safe. Used sometimes by video-gamers. For instance, when the canary gets killed, springs the trap, takes the fall etc, it will tell you where the dangers/enemies are. Origin: coal miners used to keep a canary in the mine, when it died they knew there was poison gas.

Looks dangerous in there, let the canary go first.

the canary by author December 9, 2008

the canary 

One of the many nicknames that Donald Trump Jr uses for cocaine.

Donald Trump Jr looks like the cat who swallowed the canary.

the canary by Cursing the darkness December 12, 2022

the canary islands 

The best islands in the world, theyre found off the coast of africa, and are filled with peacefull, civilised great Spaniards, but there are lots of buggered british chavs, so be warned.

"Hey, have you been to the Canary Islands? Its the best islands in the world! The brits wanted the island because their islands were already filthy with irishmen!"

"Yeah but now its filled with the worst British Tourists ever, especially the ones from the black country."

the canary islands by TheCanarian December 20, 2017

The Canary Islands 

One of the best islands in the world.
They're owned by Spain, and they're definitively somewhere to go if you wanna go to the beach every day
There's around 7 to 8 of them, and the biggest one is Tenerife!

Unfortunately during Summer prices to go there are high since demand, so try going in autumn or spring since most of the year it's mostly just summer!
(No, seasons don't really exist there)

Person 1: "Dude, I went to the Canary Islands in winter!"

Person 2: "And? How was it?"

Person 1: "It felt like I was back in summer! The beach was awesome and the rock beaches were the best!"

The Canary Islands by NormalFery April 6, 2022

the canary isn’t there to help dig coal

Simple definition:

Sometimes 'empty gestures' are important, as their absence indicates trouble.

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Nuanced definition:

Empty gestures and window dressing, while not true indicators of sincerity, are at least visible symbols of support. Even if they weren't creating meaningful change, the lack of visible support becomes a warning of shifting sentiment when it is withdrawn.

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Full explanation:

Originally coined in a Reddit thread, "the canary isn’t there to help dig coal" is a response to a memed discussion about "rainbow capitalism."

The meme quotes a Tumblr user as saying "I miss rainbow capitalism. I do. I miss when it felt like public opinion was still pro gay. I understand it was always an empty gesture, but it mattered in a sense of knowing how socially acceptable being queer is. If that makes sense."

In their response, the Reddit user said "'Rainbow capitalism is just performative', yeah well, the canary isn’t there to help dig coal."

They are accepting the assertion and adding that, while some actions display sentiments the performer doesn't actually believe, those action at least serve the function of normalizing ideas.

While it's not the hard work of "digging coal" (truly changing hearts and minds), showing and failing to show such displays are indicators of general acceptance rising or falling (if the canary dies, things are going poorly).

“Rainbow capitalism is just performative”, yeah well, the canary isn’t there to help dig coal.

the canary isn’t there to help dig coal by definer3001 July 2, 2026

Cat that ate the canary 

Used to describe the look on someone’s face when they are satasfied with something they’ve done, said, or experienced...

Person One: *Finishes Puzle*
Person Two: Well don’t you look like the cat that ate the canary...

Cat that ate the canary by TheCrunchy October 18, 2018

look like the cat swallowed the canary 

to have a knowing and self-satisfied smile on one's face; to be pleased with oneself, often because one has done something which one knows was wrong but which was very enjoyable.

1. when the teacher came into the classroom, the students sat there looking like cats that swallowed the canaries
2. don't trust karen, she looks like the cat swallowed the canary...i know what you're up tp karen!!
: look like the cat swallowed the canary

look like the cat swallowed the canary by a very tired student September 24, 2018