# as the crow flies

> English word · Adverb

## Definitions
1. In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.

## Etymology
From the fact that while crows fly to their source of food, their flight bypasses obstacles like rivers and terrain. Compare beeline.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/as-the-crow-flies