sing like a canary

verb

To inform on a criminal in great detail.

Meanings

verbsing like a canary (third-person singular simple present sings like a canary, present participle singing like a canary, simple past sang like a canary, past participle sung like a canary)

present singular third person sings like a canary · participle present singing like a canary · past sang like a canary · participle past sung like a canary

  1. slangTo inform on a criminal in great detail.
Cite this entry
APA

sing like a canary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sing%20like%20a%20canary

MLA

“sing like a canary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sing%20like%20a%20canary. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sing like a canary,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sing%20like%20a%20canary.

Source: sing like a canary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.