Crows are often featured in English sayings, which are phrases that express an idea or advice. This blog post will explain 20 different crow-related idioms, what they mean, and how they are used in sentences.
Crow Idioms
Here are 20 crow idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. As the crow flies
Meaning: The shortest possible distance between two places.
Example: My house is 30 miles from here, as the crow flies.
2. Eat crow
Meaning: To admit a humiliating mistake.
Example: He had to eat crow after his prediction failed.
3. Crow’s feet
Meaning: Wrinkles at the outer corner of the eyes.
Example: Laughing a lot gave her crow’s feet.
4. Crow over
Meaning: To boast about something.
Example: He crowed over his victory in the match.
5. Stone the crows
Meaning: An expression of astonishment.
Example: Stone the crows! That’s a huge pumpkin!
6. Night crow
Meaning: A person who stays up late.
Example: He’s a real night crow, always studying at midnight.
7. Crow’s nest
Meaning: A lookout point on a ship.
Example: He spotted land from the crow’s nest.
8. To have a crow to pluck
Meaning: Having an unresolved issue with someone.
Example: I still have a crow to pluck with him.
9. A murder of crows
Meaning: A group of crows.
Example: A murder of crows flew overhead.
10. Crow bait
Meaning: Something doomed or in bad condition.
Example: That old car is nothing but crow bait now.
11. Crow’s egg
Meaning: Something worthless or fake.
Example: He bought a crow’s egg, thinking it was valuable.
12. Crow in the basket
Meaning: Keeping a secret hidden.
Example: She kept her plans a crow in the basket.
13. To crow too soon
Meaning: To celebrate before a final outcome is known.
Example: He crowed too soon and jinxed it.
14. Black as a crow
Meaning: Very black or dark.
Example: His new car is black as a crow.
15. Crow’s song
Meaning: An unpleasant sound or bad news.
Example: Waking up to the crow’s song of traffic is the worst.
16. Young crow, old crow
Meaning: A saying about age not affecting behavior.
Example: He’s an old crow in young crow’s feathers.
17. Crow’s pace
Meaning: Very slow progress.
Example: This project is moving at a crow’s pace.
18. No crow, no bow
Meaning: No effort, no success.
Example: Remember, no crow, no bow—you need to try!
19. Callow as a crow
Meaning: Very inexperienced or immature.
Example: He’s callow as a crow in business matters.
20. Old crow
Meaning: An old or worn-out person.
Example: He’s getting to be an old crow, but he’s still sharp.
