bird's-eye survey

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The direct distance across the island was less than three miles, and by a bird’s-eye survey from the highest point in the centre, they calculated that the most practicable path would be about five miles.

From The Two Shipmates by Kingston, William Henry Giles

Having searched the flat without finding him, Elizabeth went to the window, with the intention of making a bird's-eye survey of the street.

From The Man with Two Left Feet And Other Stories by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

However, thinks I, this is owing to my taking a horizontal view, instead of a bird's-eye survey.

From Redburn. His First Voyage by Melville, Herman