As the crow flies

As the crow flies
For other uses, see As the Crow Flies (disambiguation).

"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.

An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S. state of Florida where the direct route by road is about 792 mi (1,275 km) and the direct point-to-point aerial transit path that might be taken by a crow is 524 mi (843 km).

The phrase is attested in print as early as 1800.[1]

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001). "Crow (n.)". Crow (n.). http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=As+the+crow+flies. Retrieved 2008-02-12. 

External links


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  • as the crow flies — the shortest distance between two places    The farm is about ten miles northeast of town, as the crow flies …   English idioms

  • as the crow flies — adverb by the shortest and most direct route it s 10 miles as the crow flies * * * phrasal : in a straight line : by a direct course by rail today is 80 1/2 miles, whereas it is only 49 miles as the crow flies O.S.Nock * * * as the crow flies In… …   Useful english dictionary

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  • as the crow flies — ► as the crow flies in a straight line across country. Main Entry: ↑crow …   English terms dictionary

  • as the crow flies — {adv. clause} By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. * /It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • as the crow flies — {adv. clause} By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. * /It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • as\ the\ crow\ flies — adv clause By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain …   Словарь американских идиом

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