beeline
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The most direct route between two points: A "beeline" refers to a straight, direct, and uninterrupted path taken to reach a destination, often quickly and purposefully, mimicking the way a bee is thought to fly directly back to its hive.
Usage
- The word "beeline" is almost always used in the phrase "make a beeline for [something/somewhere]". This idiom describes the action of heading straight toward a target without delay or deviation.
- It implies urgency, eagerness, or a clear, single-minded intention.
Examples
- Noun in the idiom "make a beeline for":
- As soon as the meeting ended, he made a beeline for the exit.
- When the cookies were served, the children made a beeline for the table.
- The dog made a beeline for its favorite toy the moment it saw it.
Advanced Usage
- While "make a beeline for" is the standard construction, the word can occasionally be used more flexibly to describe the route itself.
- His path through the crowd was a veritable beeline to the stage.
- We decided to take a beeline across the field instead of following the winding path.
Variants and Related Words
- Bee-line (noun): An alternative, hyphenated spelling with the same meaning.
- As the crow flies: An idiom meaning in a straight, direct line, similar in concept to "beeline" but typically used to describe geographical distance rather than a person's immediate action.
Synonyms
- Direct route: The straightest path.
- Straight shot: (Informal) A direct and unimpeded course.
- Shortcut: A quicker, more direct way.
Related Idioms
- Make a beeline for: To go directly and quickly toward something.
- As noted above, this is the primary idiomatic usage of the word.
Noun
- the most direct route
- he made a beeline for the bathroom