herding eye

noun

An intense, unwavering, predatory-style stare used to control livestock, such as sheep or cattle, without needing to bark or physically force them (a trait common in working breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds).

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Meanings

nounherding eye (plural herding eyes)

plural herding eyes

  1. An intense, unwavering, predatory-style stare used to control livestock, such as sheep or cattle, without needing to bark or physically force them (a trait common in working breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds).

    I walk Veto, who is giving me the herding eye because that should have happened half an hour ago.

    2012, Heather Donahue, “Pantshitting”, in Growgirl, page 112
    1 more example

    Homer came over to me gingerly, then froze. I looked over and saw Devon, crouched and ready to spring, giving him the herding eye. I chased Devon outside

    2010, Katz, Jon, A dog year : rescuing Devon, the most troublesome dog in the world, page 134
Cite this entry
APA

herding eye. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herding%20eye

MLA

“herding eye.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herding%20eye. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “herding eye,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/herding%20eye.

Source: herding eye on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.