What does bird dog mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈbɜːrd dɔɡ/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb phrase

Definition

To locate or scout out something, especially in a sneaky or underhanded manner, often with the intention of stealing or exploiting it. The term originated from the practice of hunting with trained birds that would flush out game for the hunter to catch.

Examples

• The rival company was trying to bird dog our employees by offering them higher salaries.
• The politician was accused of bird dogging his opponent’s ideas to use as his own.

Synonyms

• Poach
• Pilfer

Antonyms

• Create
• Innovate

Additional Information

The term “bird dog” is often used in a derogatory manner to imply that someone is engaging in unfair or dishonest practices. However, in some contexts, such as in sales or talent scouting, bird dogging can be a legitimate and even admired skill.

Historically, the term “bird dog” was used in the early 20th century in the context of baseball, where a bird dog was a scout who would identify talented young players and report back to the team.

Today, the term is commonly used in business, politics, and entertainment to describe the practice of locating and exploiting talent or resources.

Etimology

The term “bird dog” originated from the practice of hunting with trained birds that would flush out game for the hunter to catch. Over time, the term came to be used figuratively to describe the act of scouting out or locating something.

Usage Notes

When using the term “bird dog,” it’s essential to consider the context and tone. In some cases, it may be used in a negative light to imply dishonest or unfair practices. However, in other contexts, it can be a neutral or even positive term.

Cultural References

The term “bird dog” has appeared in various forms of popular culture, such as in movies, TV shows, and music. For example, in the movie “Jerry Maguire,” the main character is a sports agent who bird dogs clients to recruit them to his agency.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“To bird dog something” is a common idiomatic expression that means to locate or scout out something. Another phrase is “to be on the bird dog trail,” which means to be searching or hunting for something.

Related Words or Phrases

• Poach
• Pilfer
• Scout

Collocations

• Bird dog a talent
• Bird dog a business idea
• Bird dog a deal

Frequency of Use

The term “bird dog” is not a commonly used word in everyday conversation. However, it is frequently used in certain industries, such as sales, talent scouting, and politics.

Common Misspellings

• Bird-dog
• Birddog
• Birddog