Crossword Genius

Like a mad dog worrying a bird (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rabid

'like a mad dog' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'worrying a bird' is the wordplay.
'worrying' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'bird'='abird'
'abird' with letters rearranged gives 'RABID'.

(Other definitions for rabid that I've seen before include "Violent; hydrophobic" , "Extremely fanatical" , "Ill from a mad dog bite?" , "Affected by hydrophobia" , "Infected with hydrophobia" .)

Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app