Is there a more modern version of the idiom “as the crow flies”?
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"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.
The idiom feels dated. Is there a more modern saying that means the same thing?
idioms
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
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"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.
The idiom feels dated. Is there a more modern saying that means the same thing?
idioms
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
1
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
1
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42
add a comment
|
"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.
The idiom feels dated. Is there a more modern saying that means the same thing?
idioms
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
"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.
The idiom feels dated. Is there a more modern saying that means the same thing?
idioms
idioms
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
asked May 27 at 22:56
amacrobertamacrobert
1615 bronze badges
1615 bronze badges
Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
1
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
1
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42
add a comment
|
Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
1
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
1
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42
Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
1
1
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
1
1
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42
add a comment
|
1 Answer
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The modern phrase I've heard for this is "straight line distance"
It's five hundred miles from A to B as the crow flies
The straight line distance from A to B is five hundred miles.
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
add a comment
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1 Answer
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active
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
The modern phrase I've heard for this is "straight line distance"
It's five hundred miles from A to B as the crow flies
The straight line distance from A to B is five hundred miles.
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
add a comment
|
The modern phrase I've heard for this is "straight line distance"
It's five hundred miles from A to B as the crow flies
The straight line distance from A to B is five hundred miles.
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
add a comment
|
The modern phrase I've heard for this is "straight line distance"
It's five hundred miles from A to B as the crow flies
The straight line distance from A to B is five hundred miles.
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
The modern phrase I've heard for this is "straight line distance"
It's five hundred miles from A to B as the crow flies
The straight line distance from A to B is five hundred miles.
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
answered May 28 at 2:05
DJClayworthDJClayworth
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
14.1k1 gold badge33 silver badges41 bronze badges
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
add a comment
|
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
How about "as Google gives it"?
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:19
add a comment
|
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Not really a saying but "in a straight line" works
– wrymug
May 27 at 23:57
1
I'm not sure there is any better phrase meaning distance measured by a ruler on the map (as opposed to distance that a person has to travel in practice, accounting for the indirect layout of thoroughfares and so on). I wouldn't say the idiom is dated - it is quite regularly heard and the meaning and context of use appear to be very specific.
– Steve
May 28 at 1:15
What makes you think it's "dated"? There are still crows, are there not?
– bof
May 28 at 1:41
Straight as an arrow!
– Hot Licks
May 28 at 2:18
1
You will say "The length of the rhumb line joining the following points..." Then you give the coordinates and specify the datum. This sounds more modern.
– jlovegren
May 28 at 3:42