Origin of the phrase "The Way the Crow Flies"?

Question

I know the meaning of this phrase, but was wondering what the origin is. Thanks!

Answer 1

Well i have listened over the years and here in Ireland people say that when the Romans where building roads they said that the crow was the best navigator that they had evers seen. So thats why they never built roads with corners because the crow as we know they crow never turns corners.

Answer 2

Beats me.  But I do know a hawk from a handsaw.  When the wind is southerly, that is.

Answer 3

"The crow flies in a straight line, isn't it? That must have given the phrase the meaning.

Answer 4

The Way the Crow Flies reminds us that in time of war the lines between right and wrong are often blurred.

Answer 5

It is more commonly used as 'as the crow flies', meaning in a straight line between two places, rather than by the roads.

"The expression 'as the crow flies' has been in use since at least 1800. I don't know that there is any evidence that a crow flies in a straighter line than any other bird, but corvus brachyrhynchos of North America has a reputation for intelligence that, I suppose, would tend to lead it straight to its goal."

Answer 6

The Way the Crow Flies" is a novel.  "As the crow flies" is--as the previous poster noted--first recorded in 1800.  That doesn't mean the expression wasn't around earlier, but it wasn't popular enough to use as a common turn-of-phrase.