I often cook dinner on the fly.
on the fly
idiomSpontaneously or extemporaneously; done as one goes, or during another activity.
The speaker forgot his notes, so he had to create a new presentation on the fly.
The director adjusted the scene on the fly, trusting the actors to improvise their lines as the cameras continued to roll.
- 01
fly blind
To do by guesswork; to feel one's way.
- 02
fly by
To pass or go past quickly, often without much interaction
- 03
fly by the seat of one's pants
To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.
- 04
fly in the face of
To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.
- 05
fly in the ointment
Something (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a disagreeable or unpleasant detail.
- 06
fly low
To have one's fly (zipper) undone.
- 07
fly off
To flee rapidly; to run away.
- 08
fly off at a tangent
To digress from a topic.
Last updated April 17, 2026