crow

To brag or boast about something, likened to the squawking of a rooster. You know, no one likes it when you go around crowing over your successes in business.

Wrinkles at the corner of the eyes, likened to the long forked toes on a crow's foot. Some people dread getting wrinkles, but I rather like my crow's feet—I think they give me a wise appearance.

To be awake, out of bed, and active at a particularly early hour of the morning. Primarily heard in Australia. I don't know how he does it, but my husband is up with the crows every single morning. I won't have another pint, thanks. I have to be up with the crows tomorrow, so I'd better head home soon.

Awake, out of bed, and active at a particularly early hour of the morning. Primarily heard in Australia. I don't know how he does it, but my husband has gotten up with the crows every morning of his life. I won't have another pint, thanks. I have to be up with the crows tomorrow, so I'd better head home soon.

An issue to discuss—typically one that is a source of annoyance for the speaker. Hey, I have a crow to pluck with you! Why didn't you put gas in my car after you borrowed it?

The measurement of distance in a straight line. (From the notion that crows always fly in a straight line.) From here to the office, it's about 20 miles as the crow flies, but it's more like 30 miles by car since you have to wind around the mountain.

Rur. someone or an animal that is likely to die; a useless animal or person. That old dog used to hunt good, but now he's just crow bait.

to act very humble when one is shown to be wrong. I think I'm right, but if I'm wrong, I'll eat humble pie. You think you're so smart. I hope you have to eat humble pie.

very hoarse. (*Also: as ~.) After shouting at the team all afternoon, the coach was as hoarse as a crow. Jill: Has Bob got a cold? Jane: No, he's always hoarse as a crow.

Fig. to cause someone to retract a statement or admit an error. Because Mary was completely wrong, we made her eat crow. They won't make me eat crow. They can't prove I was wrong.

measured in a straight line It's only about 100 miles as the crow flies to great ski country.

to publicly admit you were wrong about something Charles had to eat crow and tell them they were right all along.

if the distance between two places is measured as the crow flies, it is measured as a straight line between the two places 'How far is it from Cambridge to London?' 'About 50 miles as the crow flies.' Our farm is only five miles from town as the crow flies, but the winding roads mean we have to drive nearly eight miles to get there.

to be forced to admit that you are wrong and to say you are sorry The producers of the advert had to eat humble pie and apologize for misrepresenting the facts.

a situation that existed until the 1960's in the south of the US, when black people were treated badly, especially by being separated from white people in public places Jim Crow meant there were no black kids in white schools. (American)

something that you say in order to show that you are very surprised So she's a film director now. Well, stone the crows!

to be awake and out of your bed early in the morning You were up with the lark this morning!

In a straight line, by the shortest route, as in It's only a mile as the crow flies, but about three miles by this mountain road. This idiom is based on the fact that crows, very intelligent birds, fly straight to the nearest food supply. [Late 1700s]

Exult loudly about, especially over someone's defeat. For example, In most sports it's considered bad manners to crow over your opponent. This term alludes to the cock's loud crow. [Late 1500s]

Also, eat dirt or humble pie . Be forced to admit a humiliating mistake, as in When the reporter got the facts all wrong, his editor made him eat crow. The first term's origin has been lost, although a story relates that it involved a War of 1812 encounter in which a British officer made an American soldier eat part of a crow he had shot in British territory. Whether or not it is true, the fact remains that crow meat tastes terrible. The two variants originated in Britain. Dirt obviously tastes bad. And humble pie alludes to a pie made from umbles, a deer's undesirable innards (heart, liver, entrails). [Early 1800s] Also see eat one's words.

In a straight line.

To be forced to accept a humiliating defeat.

To be forced to apologize abjectly or admit one's faults in humiliating circumstances.