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Sing like a canary

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To confess or provide information readily, especially under pressure; bird metaphor describing canary's singing, applied to informants betraying associates by revealing secrets easily.

Detailed Definition
Sing like a canary means to reveal secrets, confess, inform on others, or speak freely under pressure. In poetry, the idiom combines song with betrayal, turning disclosure into bright sound. It can appear in crime narratives, political poems, satire, or dramatic monologues where silence breaks. The canary image may suggest fragility, captivity, and a voice valued only for what it gives away. A poet can use it to explore confession, loyalty, coercion, and the dangerous music of truth.
Example
Example in poetry:
A crime ballad might say the frightened accomplice sings like a canary when the constable shuts the door; In satire, the corrupt clerk sings like a canary once protection is gone; The phrase means to reveal secrets readily, especially under pressure; A poet can use it for betrayal and confession.
Additional Notes
Sing like a canary means confess, inform, or reveal secrets readily, often to authorities. The bird image turns confession into song, but the context may be betrayal, fear, or self-preservation. In poetry, it suits crime narratives, political repression, gossip, and dramatic monologue. Students should notice the tension between beauty and treachery: singing is normally expressive, yet here it may expose others. It pairs well with cages, interrogation, and bright fragile voices.
Also Known As
confess
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