canary

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Pronunciations

canary (kuh-NAIR-ee) listen

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Definitions

  • interj. God forbid; an expression uttered after positive information to ward off the evil eye or bad luck.

  • n. The evil eye; bad luck; often said in response to a compliment so the opposite does not occur.

Example Sentences

  • “'Mitzi, did you get your hair done? It looks so thick and gorgeous.' 'Did you have to say that? Don’t give me a canary.'” (JPS)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • Yiddish קײן עין־הרע ke(y)n eyn(h)óre/ayen-hóre 'no Evil Eye, knock on wood!'

      • Who Uses This

      • Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

      Regions

      • North America

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).

      Alternative Spellings

      kaynahara, keyn ayin hara, kanehore, keineinehora, kine-ahora, kein ayin hara, kainahora, kainehora, keinahora

Notes

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