[Idiom] FLY BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS. - Learning to Navigate Uncertainty in English

do something without a plan

The expression 'fly by the seat of your pants' evokes a vivid image of improvisation. It originally referred to pilots in the early days of aviation who had few navigational instruments and had to rely on their instincts and physical sensations to control the aircraft. Nowadays, this idiom applies to any situation where a person has to manage something without clear guidelines or prior preparation. It describes handling tasks by using one's experience and intuition rather than a systematic plan. When you 'fly by the seat of your pants', you are adapting to circumstances as they unfold, much like an agile pilot responding to the changing winds.

Example Sentences

1. He had no plan and decided to fly by the seat of his pants.

   He had no plan and decided to improvise.

2. They had to fly by the seat of their pants when the script changed.

   They had to improvise when the script changed.

3. Without a clear strategy, they flew by the seat of their pants.

   Without a clear strategy, they decided to improvise.