bird-dog
• noun
North American A hunting dog, such as a pointer, setter, or retriever, bred and trained specifically to locate, flush, or retrieve game birds.
"The experienced setter worked as a reliable bird-dog throughout the autumn pheasant season."
A core-strengthening bodyweight exercise performed on hands and knees in which a person simultaneously extends one arm forward and the opposite leg backward.
"The physical therapist recommended doing three sets of ten bird-dogs every morning to stabilize her lower back."
North American A person hired or assigned to seek out, track down, or recruit prospects, talent, or business opportunities, such as in real estate, sales, or athletics.
"The real estate investor relied on a local bird-dog to spot distressed properties before they hit the open market."
• verb
North American To watch, follow, or supervise someone or something closely and persistently.
"Activists decided to bird-dog the candidates at every town hall meeting to demand answers on climate policy."
North American To search out, investigate, or track down information, prospects, or opportunities with relentless determination.
"The investigative reporter spent months bird-dogging leads that eventually exposed the financial scandal."
North American To seek to lure away another person's romantic partner or business client (informal).
"He lost several friends in college because he had a habit of trying to bird-dog his roommates' dates."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun referring to the hunting dog, it is typically written as an open compound ("bird dog"), whereas the verb and figurative noun senses are frequently hyphenated ("bird-dog").
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.