as the crow flies
Meaning
By the shortest, straight-line distance between two points (not following roads or routes).
Origin
Recorded from the 18th century. It draws on the idea that a crow can fly directly to its destination, unlike people who must follow roads, rivers, or terrain.
Notes
Used when talking about distance in a straight line, often contrasted with longer driving/walking routes. Common in maps/travel talk; mostly about distance, not time.
Examples
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It’s only ten miles to the coast as the crow flies, but the drive takes nearly an hour.
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The café looks close as the crow flies, yet there’s no direct path through the park.
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As the crow flies, her hometown is 200 kilometers from Tokyo.
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The clinic is just a few blocks away as the crow flies, but the river forces you to detour.
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We’re five miles apart as the crow flies, though traffic makes it feel much farther.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase used as an adverbial: “X is 5 miles as the crow flies,” or “as the crow flies, it’s 5 miles.” Rarely inflected; usually preceded by a measurement.
Synonyms
- in a straight line
- in a straight line distance
- directly
Antonyms
- by road
- by way of
- the long way (round)