Cliché: as the crow flies

Meaning: in a straight line, by the shortest route (as a crow would fly) (example)


Rewrite 1: as the plane flies
Rewrite 2: as the gaggle travels
Rewrite 3: as the wind flows
Rewrite 4: as the clouds cross
Rewrite 5: as the stars pass overhead


Comment: Crows fly place to place versus some of the examples I've given, which are things that over, thus avoiding turns, hills, valleys, detours, etc. Planes do apply to the original example, because they fly directly place to place, although not so much if they end up stacking over a landing site. So, be careful of your metaphors. The important thing is getting there directly, in as short a route as possible.
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