bird dog

¹

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.

bird-dog

²

[ burd-dawg, -dog ]

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

, bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging.

1. to follow, watch carefully, or investigate.
2. to seek out.

verb (used without object)

, bird-dogged, bird-dog·ging.

1. Informal. to follow or watch carefully.
2. Slang. to steal or attempt to steal another person's date.

bird dog

noun

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

verb

1. informal.
   to control closely with unceasing vigilance

Word History and Origins

Origin of bird dog¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Origin of bird dog²

v. use of bird dog

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