From a start point to a destination. What does the expression “as the crow flies” mean? Ricardo: Actually, by car, it’s closer to a mile and a half since the road has to go around the mountain. The phrase “as the crow flies” means a straight direction. It would fly in a straight line without stopping, turning, or going around objects on the ground. as the crow flies ý nghĩa, định nghĩa, as the crow flies là gì: 1. used to say that a distance is measured in a straight line between two points or places 2. used…. 2. Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist This idiom’s origin is believed to come from a line in the novel Olive Twist by Charles Dickens. As the crow flies, similar to in a beeline, is an idiom for the most direct path between two points. Campsie kirk to the Crow road. Although it is not entirely true, people believe that crows fly in particularly straight lines. If you say that a place is a particular distance away as the crow flies, you mean that it is that distance away measured in a straight line. The idiom “as the crow flies” seems to have been in use since the early 1800s. Is there a more modern saying that means the same thing? This term is contemporary with 'as the crow flies' and is cited in the 1795 Statistical Account of Scotland, where a turnpike, or 'crow road', was suggested as a means of reducing the costs of road maintenance, by eliminating numerous winding roads: as the crow flies definition: 1. used to say that a distance is measured in a straight line between two points or places 2. used…. This is the British English definition of as the crow flies.View American English definition of as the crow flies.. Change your default dictionary to American English. Crows detest large expanses of water and head, as straight as a crow flies, towards the nearest land if released at sea — very useful if you were unsure of the nearest land when sailing in foggy waters before the days of radar. Crows normally fly in large wheeling arcs, looking for food. The phrase as the crow flies means in a straight, direct line, as opposed to the longer route required by a road.. This phrase is an American colloquial idiom, meaning humiliation by admitting wrongness or having been proven wrong after taking a strong position. ‘The Spaniard, if on foot, always travels as the crow flies, which the openness and dryness of the country permits; neither rivers nor the steepest mountains stop his course, he swims over the one and scales the other.’ – The London Review Of English And Foreign Literature. [Late 1700s] Crows are said to have been kept on ships and when the sailors suspected that they were close to land they would let the crows out. Imagine how a crow would fly. As the crow flies definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. There is no definite origin for the phrase, but one theory is that it is related to sailing. I heard you’re going to the party later tonight. Wellbeing or Well-Being – Which is Correct? Idiom: As the crow flies; Language: English; Explained meaning: English; Idiom submitted by: Ww Ww; Meanings of "As the crow flies" English. This idiom is often used when talking about the relative distance between two different places. 4. This meaning is attested from the early 19th century, and appeared in Charles Dickens 's novel Oliver Twist : We cut over the fields at the back with him between us – straight as the crow flies – … Ricardo: Yeah. Definition and synonyms of as the crow flies from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.. It’s about half a mile north of here, as the crow flies. Meaning of Idiom ‘As the Crow Flies’ As the crow flies means in a straight line, without having to follow roads or without any detours; without having to go around any obstacles, such as hills, mountains, lakes, etc. Crow definition, any of several large oscine birds of the genus Corvus, of the family Corvidae, having a long, stout bill, lustrous black plumage, and a wedge-shaped tail, as the common C. brachyrhynchos, of North America. Crow to Pluck. In a direct line, without any of the detours caused by following a road. – Pete Kirkham Jul 21 '17 at 10:34 It would take the shortest route from starting point to destination. The English idiom as the crow flies is a popular way to describe the shortest distance from point A to point B, without worrying about the objects in between. The phrase isn't 'as a bird flies', but 'as the crow flies'. As the is not entered in the thesaurus. It is unhindered by obstacles and can fly in a straight line. The term 'the crow road' has long been used in Scotland to denote the most direct route. Previously, the distance was drawn in a straight line, or “as the crow flies.” But geography often made this measurement unhelpful and misleading. However, in this case it had a different meaning, traveling many places but only stopping at a few. : The source of the river was over 8km away as the crow flies, and we had come prepared for a long trip. It isn't about ground versus air. 17+1 sentence examples: 1. Definition: The shortest distance from one place to another. It’s great to use this expression to give a reference for a location. 20) The expression is " as the crow flies ", and means "by the most direct route". from Nîmes as the crow flies, the aqueduct itself followed a course … J'habite à 200 mètres de chez toi à vol d'oiseau. Actually, the phrase was used in print even earlier, in the 1758 work The Critical Review: Or Annals of Literature, Volume 4. Definition: measured in distance by air. 1, 2, 3 The idiom feels dated. See full dictionary entry for crow COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Here is an example conversation between two friends who are discussing the location of a party they will both be attending in the evening. This idiom is used to describe the shortest possible distance between two places. Example: We have a crow to pluck. Here is 1 entry in the thesaurus containing as the. As the crow flies means in a straight line from one place to another. It has also been used there latterly to indicate death, which is the meaning alluded to in Iain Banks' 1992 eponymous novel. Patrick: Hey, man! "As the crow flies" or "as the bird flies" means the most direct path between two points, not accounting for streets and obstacles one on the ground would have to account for. This idiom is based on the fact that crows, very intelligent birds, fly straight to the nearest food supply. Look it up now! It refers to the fact that the crow is a very intelligent creature and would not take a long route if a short one was available. Watch this video and learn the meaning of the idiom "As the Crow Flies". : The distance is less than seven miles as the crow flies, but is 13 miles by water, because of the twists and turns of the river. as the crow flies expr expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own." As the Crow Flies Origin We cut over the fields at the back with him between us – straight as the crow flies – through hedge and ditch. Nowadays, this phrase is typically used as a reference for the distance between two points. in cutting a line of road from The earliest known citation of the phrase, which explicitly defines its meaning, comes in The London Review Of English And Foreign Liturature, by W. Kenrick - 1767: The Spaniaad [sic], if on foot, always travels My house is ten miles from here as the crow flies. Crows generally fly in direct routes between two places, as the crow flies is an idiom that is drawn from the direct observation of nature. This is no longer the meaning we use today. As the crow flies means in a straight line from one place to another. The crows would then find the most direct route to a source of food, which coul… The equivalent French phrase does not refer to a specific bird species: it is à vol d’oiseau, literally by bird flight.. 3. most careless observer; viz. Rather, it tells the person the distance if he or she could go there directly, without worrying about objects blocking the way. Home » Phrase and Idiom Dictionary » What Does As the Crow Flies Mean? It was 150 miles inland from Boston as the crow flies. as the crow flies In a straight line, by the shortest route, as in It's only a mile as the crow flies, but about three miles by this mountain road. For example: The north rim of the Grand Canyon is roughly 10 miles away from the south rim—well within the 40-mile rule bubble—but it is 200 miles away “as the crow drives.” –, Whether you are calculating air miles for rewards programs or your own curiosity, you can calculate “as the crow flies” or by the path most often taken from airport to airport. as the crow flies In a straight line, by the shortest route, as in It's only a mile as the crow flies, but about three miles by this mountain road. Find another word for as the crow flies. Synonyms of as the crow flies from the Merriam-Webster Thesaurus, plus related words, definitions, and antonyms. –. tjpeiffer.com "As The Crow Flies" Distance Calculator Calculates the "As the Crow Flies" distance between any two places on earth. Crows are perhaps an odd choice as, unlike many birds that migrate over long distances, their flight isn't especially straight. Why did you arrive late? Expressing the straight-line distance between two points. One source I found said: British coastal vessels customarily carried a cage of crows. This idiom is based on the fact that crows, very intelligent birds, fly straight to the nearest food supply. It’s great to use this expression to give a reference for a location. Do you know where it is? Crows tend to fly straight and level - crows aren't scared of hawks and will fight them, most other birds flit unpredictably so predators can't predict them so easily. The term as the crow flies first appears in the 1760s, to describe actual distances not influenced by landmarks or detours. However, it’s not necessarily the best choice for giving detailed directions on how to get to a place by car or on foot. 5. The allusion in this expression is obviously to the ability of crows to fly directly from A to B, without the encumbrances of roads and landscape features that restrict man. (in a straight line) à vol d'oiseau : As the crow flies, I live only 200 meters from your house. This term is contemporary with 'as the crow flies' and is cited in the 1795 Statistical Account of Scotland, where a turnpike, or 'crow road', was suggested as a means of reducing the costs of road maintenance, by eliminating numerous winding roads: One of which improvements is evident to the A What does 'As the crow flies' mean? It is not very helpful, however, for giving detailed directions because it does not take into account all the twists and turns one would have to take to get around big buildings, mountains, or other obstacles on the ground. ‘The proposed site is eight-and-a-half kilometres from the airport as the crow flies, and it is first-class flat agricultural land with three rivers running through the site.’ ‘Although this is only some 20 km. As the Crow Flies. Example: We’re just 12 miles from town as the crow flies, but with these mountain roads the driving distance is more like 20. The phrase has been in use since the 1700s. Glamor or Glamour – What’s the Difference? There is some speculation about how this idiom originated, but most sources point to William Kenrick as the author who first used it in print with its current meaning in the year 1767. Crows generally fly in direct routes between two places, as the crow flies is an idiom that is drawn from the direct observation of nature. Tìm hiểu thêm. If you have to discuss something annoying, it is a crow to pluck. It's 10 miles as the crow flies. phrase If you say that a place is a particular distance away as the crow flies , you mean that it is that distance away measured in a straight line. As the crow flies: in a direct line or course. Subscribe to our channel in order to stay tuned to all our videos.Allah Hafiz I live at Mesa, Washington, about 10 miles as the crow flies from Hanford. as the crow flies - by the shortest and most direct route; "it's 10 miles as the crow flies" Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. Definition of AS THE CROW FLIES (phrase): in a straight line. The English idiom as the crow flies is a popular way to describe the shortest distance from point A to point B, without worrying about the objects in between. The term as the crow flies first appears in the 1760s, to describe actual distances not influenced by landmarks or detours. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc. 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