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)
- (UK, Ireland, idiomatic) In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
- Synonym: as the crow flies
- It is 240 miles as the gull flies.
Translations
in a straight line — see as the crow flies