bird dog

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.
Origin
1885-90, Americanism

bird-dog

[burd-dawg, -dog] /ˈbɜrdˌdɔg, -ˌdɒg/
verb (used with object), bird-dogged, bird-dogging. Informal.
1.
to follow, watch carefully, or investigate.
2.
to seek out.
verb (used without object), bird-dogged, bird-dogging.
3.
Informal. to follow or watch carefully.
4.
Slang. to steal or attempt to steal another person's date.
Origin
v. use of bird dog
Examples from the web for bird dog
  • Quail hunters' canine woes often start when hunters unknowingly pick a bird dog from the wrong bloodlines.
  • The area is heavily used for walk-in waterfowl and pheasant hunting, fishing, bird dog training and bird watching.
  • Hunting released pheasants with a well-trained bird dog is encouraged.
  • There is still time to work your bird dog and chase grouse.
  • Hold your bird dog in higher esteem than your relatives.
  • The wonder of watching a bird dog work a field or the camaraderie with friends and family makes the whole hunting trip worth it.
British Dictionary definitions for bird dog

bird dog

noun
1.
(hunting) a dog used or trained to retrieve game birds after they are shot
verb -dogs, -dogging, -dogged
2.
(informal) to control closely with unceasing vigilance
Slang definitions & phrases for bird dog

bird dog

noun phrase
  1. A person, like a detective, talent scout, etc, whose job is to find something or someone (1930+)
  2. A chaperon at a dance or a third person on a date, appointed to be vigilant (1930s+ Students)
  3. A tactical officer, enforcing order and discipline (1930s+ Service academy)
  4. A fighter or interceptor aircraft
  5. An aircraft that spotted and marked targets (WWII Army Air Forces)
  6. The automatic direction-finding instrument of an aircraft (1970s+ Airline)
  7. A radar detector: The cop is sitting there with a bird dog (1970s+ Citizens band)
verb
  1. To act asa bird dog: Leo Browne was doing some ''bird-dogging'' for the Yankees (1930+)
  2. To seduce or go out with another girl's boyfriend: Sorry to bird-dog you, but the guy asked me to the spring concert (1990s+ Teenagers)