ride herd

This is a term typically used by senior management when they want you to focus all efforts on the newest "shiny thing" that just popped up. The new thing is often less important than your usual work and will distract you to the point that they will later ask you why you aren't meeting deadlines. When someone tells you to ride herd, this should be a moment where you question your career choice.

Hey Todd, can you get Sam on the phone and ride herd till this is figured out?

by Flying Bacon April 3, 2011

ride herd on

To make things go right and keep things in order, more than supervising, of overseeing. (easily come up with cowboys driving cattles.)

My job is to ride herd on this projects. I have to make sure everythings heading right, but today some department mixed up, really pain in my ass.

by shuxxxy September 11, 2009