In Linea D’aria

Simple Definition:

“As the crow flies” means the shortest distance between two points in a straight line, without considering any obstacles or the actual path one might have to take. It’s often used to describe the direct distance between two locations.

Origin:

The expression comes from the natural flight pattern of crows, which tend to fly directly to their destination without deviating around obstacles like roads, rivers, or buildings. The phrase has been used in English since at least the 18th century to describe the most direct route from one place to another.

Examples of use:

1. “The village is 10 miles away as the crow flies, but the winding roads make it a 15-mile drive.”
2. “The cabin is only 2 miles as the crow flies from the lake, but it takes longer to get there because of the dense forest.”
3. “The hotel is just 5 kilometers away as the crow flies, but you’ll need to take a different route because of the mountains.”

Traduzione in italiano:

“As the crow flies” significa la distanza più breve tra due punti in linea retta, senza considerare eventuali ostacoli o il percorso reale che si potrebbe dover fare. Viene spesso usato per descrivere la distanza diretta tra due luoghi.

Origine:

L’espressione deriva dal modello di volo naturale dei corvi, che tendono a volare direttamente verso la loro destinazione senza deviare intorno a ostacoli come strade, fiumi o edifici. La frase è stata usata in inglese almeno dal XVIII secolo per descrivere il percorso più diretto da un luogo all’altro.