make on the fly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make on the fly" is not correct in standard English; it should be "make it on the fly." You can use it when referring to creating or modifying something spontaneously or without prior planning.
Example: "We had to make it on the fly when the original plan fell through."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Where Zoe separates herself from those more refined projects, however, is in her facial expressions, especially ones she can make on the fly while gleaning meaning from written words.

Huffington Post

For instance, we encouraged people to learn to maintain their weight without keeping food records and instead to use their bathroom scale to inform them when to fine-tune their eating and physical activity habits with small, quick and easy adjustments they can make on the fly.

Stanford University

Meanwhile, I still want to make on the fly photo albums during events.

TechCrunch

I grew up loving his medleys and his opening monologue, and couldn't wait to hear what smart ass comment he'd make on the fly next, but last night he phoned it in.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With fuzzy logic, the Zojirushi's microprocessor can analyze the cooking conditions in the rice cooker and make on-the-fly adjustments.

The New York Times - Tech

Advertisers booked slots in advance, and could not make on-the-fly decisions about what ads to show based on what people were doing on the Web.

The New York Times

Theresa Pierno, president of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email that "the vague direction" superintendents are receiving from headquarters puts them "in an impossible situation". "They'll be forced to make on-the-fly decisions about what areas of national parks warrant protection.

The Washington Post

Their products allow us to make on-the-fly changes for design, layout and functionality without changing any code.

TechCrunch

In terms of scheduling, the software allows you to track employee work schedules, make on-the-fly adjustments, and track actual work against the set schedule.

TechCrunch

In addition, the Action column (see Figure 3) enables the user to make on-the-fly modifications to the algorithm's parameters, as well as to select morphing operators, fingerprints, similarity coefficients and visualization methods.

Journal of Cheminformatics

The secret sauce, which he won't go into much detail on, is that the app is dynamic, able to make on-the-fly adjustments to how much you transfer to your savings account based on how your spending has changed or is predicted to change.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase to describe a decision or action, ensure it's clear that the spontaneity is intentional or necessary due to circumstances. For example, "Given the changing conditions, we had to make adjustments on the fly."

Common error

Avoid using "make on the fly" in highly formal or academic writing. Instead, opt for alternatives like "adapt in real-time" or "adjust spontaneously" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make on the fly" (or, more correctly, "make it on the fly") functions as a verb phrase indicating the ability to create or modify something spontaneously. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the more correct phrase is "make it on the fly".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make on the fly" is used to describe creating or modifying something spontaneously. However, as Ludwig AI clarifies, standard English suggests using "make it on the fly" instead. Although it appears in diverse sources, especially news media, it’s more suitable for informal contexts. For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "improvise", "devise on the spot", or "adjust spontaneously" to maintain a professional tone and ensure grammatical accuracy. Its usage signifies adaptability and quick decision-making in dynamic situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devise on the spot

Emphasizes the immediate creation or devising of something.

produce off the cuff

Indicates producing something without previous thought or practice.

create spontaneously

Highlights the aspect of unplanned creation.

formulate in real-time

Suggests that creation is happening in front of you.

generate instantly

Highlights the rapid creation of something.

improvise

Focuses on creating something without preparation. Omits the "make" part of the original phrase.

contrive without preparation

Implies a bit of ingenuity in creating something without preparation.

extemporize

Stresses speaking or performing without prior planning. Slightly more formal.

whip up

Suggests an action to put things together without planning.

ad-lib

Specifically refers to adding unscripted content, often in performance.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "make on the fly"?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "make on the fly" is not entirely correct in standard English; the correct phrase is "make it on the fly". Though commonly used, it's grammatically questionable.

What does "make it on the fly" mean?

It means to create, adjust, or decide something spontaneously and without detailed prior planning, typically in response to immediate needs or changing circumstances.

What can I say instead of "make it on the fly"?

You can use alternatives like "improvise", "devise on the spot", or "adjust spontaneously" depending on the context.

How can I use "make it on the fly" in a sentence?

Example: "We didn't have a detailed plan, so we had to make it on the fly during the presentation."