be on the lookout

English

Alternative forms

• be-on-the-lookout, Be On the Lookout, Be on the Lookout, Be On The Lookout, Be On the Look Out

Noun

be on the lookout (plural be on the lookouts)

1. BOLO.
   • 1988, Arrest Law Bulletin, page 106:

     Hoadley issued a "be on the lookout" ("BOLO"), describing the person as a tall, thin, black male, wearing light colored clothing and traveling on foot.

   • 2014, Kären M. Hess, Christine Hess Orthmann, Henry Lim Cho, Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, page 131:

     Examples of the types of information disseminated at roll call include known warrants, “be on the lookouts” or BOLOs, runaways, and administrative requests and communications.

   • 2015, Noel T. Skippings, Birds of Terror:

     The wanted announcement and the be on the lookout for Salerno Bondi, (BOLO) was aired on radio and television, and all points bulletins were put out for police on patrol to be on the lookout for Salerno.

   • 2017, Dr. Jeffrey C. Fox, The Ultimate Guide to Being a Great Police Officer:

     I put out a “be on the lookout” for a lady in a blue dress.

Verb

be on the lookout (third-person singular simple present is on the lookout, present participle being on the lookout, simple past was on the lookout, past participle been on the lookout)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see be,‎ on the lookout.
   • 2015, Noel T. Skippings, Birds of Terror:

     The wanted announcement and the be on the lookout for Salerno Bondi, (BOLO) was aired on radio and television, and all points bulletins were put out for police on patrol to be on the lookout for Salerno.