blue canary
n.— «The report says the department does not outfit all its vehicles with gas detectors or binoculars, which would enable rescue workers to identify a hazardous material by a placard from a safe distance. Instead, some rescue workers say they would use the “blue canary” system, relying on the reactions of other personnel. “It’s a terrible thing, but if the police officers are falling over next to the scene, then you know not to go near it,” one medic said.» —“Report criticizes ‘hazmat’ training Crews seen ‘woefully’ unprepared” by John Drake Washington Times (District of Columbia) Aug. 28, 2001. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A new book about how animals perceive their environment reveals immense worlds beyond our own. A bee can see ultraviolet light, catfish have taste buds all over their bodies, and manatees use highly sensitive lips to examine nearby objects. Also...
Amy from Charlotte, North Carolina, reports a dispute arose when visiting her brother’s family. Is a large container for storing sugar properly called a can or a canister? The answer involves prototype theory, which in cognitive linguistics and...