cut sign
v. phr.—Gloss: To track someone by their trail marks. Note: Used inside the US Customs and Border Protection, which patrols the United States border. «He knew that the coyotes who led groups of undocumented workers, as well as the aliens who were without a guide, followed various favorite trails through the rough and diverse terrain. He had to keep on top of those trails and know when they abaondoned one for another. Noe learned their habits from sign cutting, then used his knowledge against them. “You watch the carefully,” he said in his classroom voice. “You have to be willing to cut sign.”» —by Robert Lee Maril Patrolling Chaos , 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern...
What’s it like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail all the way from Mexico to Canada? You’ll end up with sore muscles and blisters, and great stories to tell. Along the way, you’ll also pick up some slang, like NoBo, SoBo, Yo-yo and...