What it means
An early bird is the one who's up ridiculously early and somehow already got their life in order before everyone else has located a sock. It also means the person who gets somewhere first and bags the good stuff. You can say it as a compliment, or with a bit of an eye-roll if someone's being painfully bright at 6am.
Usage examples
"Dave rocked up at 6am with a Pret and a grin, proper early bird. By nine we rolled in like zombies and nicked his biscuits."
"Mum is the early bird of the family, washing up by half six while the rest of us are still trying to find the kettle through one open eye."
"The early bird in our office books the corner desk by the window every morning, and by the time we wander in at nine all that is left is the broken chair."
"She's such an early bird she had the group chat updated, the train booked, and a coffee in hand before I'd even sat up in bed."
"We got to the sample sale at opening and there was already a queue round the block full of early birds hunting bargains like it was sport."
Where it comes from
It comes from the proverb the early bird catches the worm, which was already in English by the 17th century and is often linked to William Camden. The image is simple and sticky: get moving early, get the advantage. From there, early bird grew into everyday speech for people who rise early or get in first.
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