as the gull flies

English

Etymology

From the fact that whilst gulls fly to their source of food, their flight bypasses obstacles like rivers and terrain. Compare beeline.

Adverb

as the gull flies (not comparable)

1. (UK, Ireland, idiomatic) In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.

   It is 240 miles as the gull flies.

Alternative forms

• as the crow flies

Translations

in a straight line — see as the crow flies