предвестник, индикатор надвигающейся беды(An allusion to caged canaries (birds) that mining workers would carry down into the mine tunnels with them. If dangerous gases such as methane or carbon monoxide leaked into the mine, the gases would kill the canary before killing the miners, thus providing a warning to exit the tunnels immediately. Miss Martyshka)
предвестник грядущих неприятностей, проблем(Notable projects looking down the barrel of receivership are not new to Vancouver’s development industry – but recent activity may well be a canary in the coal mine, according to researcher Andy Yan. (biv.com)ART Vancouver)
наделать шуму(The issue of blood sports put the cat among the pigeons at the annual general meeting of the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London yesterday. (‘Daily Worker') – Вчера в Лондоне на ежегодном общем собрании членов Королевского общества по охране животных разгорелись страсти при обсуждении вопроса об охоте. george serebryakov)