小區的草坪上明明已經有修好的石子路，但還是經常會看到人們踩出的另外一條小路，這多半是因為人們不想繞遠，也就是人們其實想走心中的“期望路線”。

Desire line is an informal path that pedestrians prefer to take to get from one location to another rather than using a sidewalk or other official route.
“期望路線”指的是行人從A地到B地選擇走的非正式道路，而不是走人行道或者其他的正式道路。

Desire lines (or “natural desire lines,” as they’re also called) are those well-worn ribbons of dirt that you see cutting across a patch of grass, often with nearby sidewalks — particularly those that offer a less direct route — ignored.
你在草地上看到的人們踩出的一條條小路就是期望路線（也稱為自然期望路線），附近的人行道常常被人們忽視，特別是那些繞路的人行道。

In winter, desire lines appear spontaneously as tramped down paths in the snow.
在冬天，期望路線就是人們自發地在雪里踩出的道路。

（中國日報網英語點津 yaning）