Talk:As the crow flies

History of the term

Definitely needs more - even to clarify the definition already supplied. Some literary examples would also serve to explain the idiom (e.g. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, in which the phrase is used numerous times)

We need to know the history of this term, where is it from, when did they start using it, why a crow, cant other birds fly straight?--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 21:26, 2 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

French has the very similar term "à vol d'oiseau"-- 'by bird's flight'. Rhinoracer 15:43, 23 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

This is a very common English language saying, that may be foreign and confusing to those who are not English speakers. I say keep the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.200.137.22 (talk) 12:14, 11 April 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Origin confusion

I think the Allen dictionary source used here is overcomplicating the phrase, and it's causing confusion in the article. It's always been my understanding that when someone says "such-and-such is 10 miles away, as the crow flies" it means exactly what it says... if you could fly straight there, like a crow, and avoid the curves and obstacles of ground paths. Allen touches on this but then seems to want to link it to "crows nest" and the concept of straightness. I'm certain that's a redherring, as evidenced by his own admission that it has a landlocked origin. It's a subtle difference, but "as the crow flies" does not just mean "in a straight line" it more specifically means to avoid ground obstacles, making it a silly phrase to use on a boat at open water. As such, I also think the comparison to "beeline" is a bit misleading. A person can make a beeline across a room, but you wouldn't say "as the crow flies" unless you are talking about greater distances with obstacles to be avoided (flown over). 71.223.89.105 (talk) 17:59, 22 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

well expressed

Gave me clarity around its origin of use

Thank you 2001:8003:22B7:2A00:5172:262D:432B:63B2 (talk) 20:14, 15 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

"One suggested etymology is..."

Etymology is about the origin of words rather than phrases, this paragraph now sounds like it's going to say how a 'crow' was a traditional blacksmith's tool or something, but it simply talks about how crows fly.

The previous "origin of the term" seems more accurate, and is not ungrammatical. --Lord Belbury (talk) 17:03, 8 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The previous version was not more accurate: read etymology and compound (linguistics). The crow is being used as a tool.

Tools don't have to be inanimate. Your reasoning is bogus. Catchpoke (talk) 18:23, 12 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think you understand me. I'm saying that "etymology" implies some analysis of the word (likely how it was adapted from another context or language), where "origin of the term" doesn't. And for this article, there's no interesting etymology of the word crow, it's just the bird. It would seem equally odd to launch into the "etymology" of a modern-day, plain English catchphrase like "I'll be back" - it's more natural to write about its origin as a term. --Lord Belbury (talk) 18:38, 12 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I don't agree with the usage of etymology here either. – The Grid (talk) 00:02, 13 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

History of the term

see also

Origin confusion

"One suggested etymology is..."