as the gull flies
In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The town is only five miles away as the gull flies.”
“Our house is two miles from the beach as the gull flies.”
“Although the mountain road is long and winding, the village is quite close as the gull flies.”
“The island looks close enough to swim to as the gull flies, but the strong currents make the actual boat trip much longer.”
“You can see the lighthouse across the bay as the gull flies, even though driving there takes nearly an hour on the coastal road.”
“While the journey by train requires several hours of travel through the valley, the distance between the two cities is remarkably short as the gull flies.”
The idiom originates from the observation of the bird's transit toward a food source. Unlike terrestrial travellers, the gull ignores the inconveniences of terrain and the winding paths of rivers, choosing instead the most direct route available. It functions as a synonym for the beeline, preserving the image of a flight path that prioritises efficiency over the landscape below.
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as the crow flies
In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
- 02
catch flies
To have one's mouth wide open for a prolonged period.
- 03
drink with the flies
To drink alcohol while alone.
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lord of the flies
a ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.
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no flies on
No mental weaknesses, character defects, or other significant flaws belonging to.
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time flies
Time passes quickly.
Last updated August 10, 2026