bird-dog

¹ American  

[burd-dawg, -dog] / ˈbɜrdˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg /

verb (used with object)

Informal.

bird-dogged, bird-dogging

1. to follow, watch carefully, or investigate.

2. to seek out.

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verb (used without object)

bird-dogged, bird-dogging

1. Informal.  to follow or watch carefully.

2. Slang.  to steal or attempt to steal another person's date.

bird dog ² American  

noun

1. one of any of various breeds of dogs trained to hunt or retrieve birds.

2. Informal.  a person hired to locate special items or people, especially a talent scout who seeks out promising athletes.

3. Slang.  a person who steals another person's date.

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bird dog British  

noun

1. hunting a dog used or trained to retrieve game birds after they are shot

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verb

1. informal  to control closely with unceasing vigilance

Etymology

Origin of bird-dog¹

v. use of bird dog

Origin of bird dog¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

“If you know a minuscule amount about a bird dog, you don’t take a 14 month old out with trained adult dogs and expect them to perform. That’s not how it works.”

From Seattle Times

“Come on, you got this,” Vandendriessche says as we mimic basic squats, mountain climbers, bird dogs and planks on the board.

From Los Angeles Times

“Come on, you got this,” Vandendriessche says, as we mimic basic squats, mountain climbers, bird dogs and planks on the board.

From Los Angeles Times

On Saturday as she was discharged, she took to the lawn outside the hospital with the determination of a bird dog, nose to the ground and pulling on her leash.

From Seattle Times

Salazar, whose office's organized crime investigators are looking into the issue, said a recruiter was paid a "bird dog fee" to recruit people to board a plane.

From Salon