as the gull flies

From the fact that whilst gulls fly to their source of food, their flight bypasses obstacles like rivers and terrain. Compare beeline.

as the gull flies (not comparable)

1. (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.