work on the fly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "work on the fly" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase means to work without much preparation and can be used in a wide range of contexts. For example, "I'm used to working on the fly, so it's easy for me to switch projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Journalists are one target, says Medlock, owing to a tendency to work on the fly and use lots of different mobile devices types and platforms; students who need a note-taking tool that can quickly pick up specialist terminology and nomenclature are another; and, generally, it's for people who care about productivity.

TechCrunch

Journalists are one target, says Medlock, owing to a tendency to work on the fly and use lots of different mobile devices types and platforms; students who need a note-taking tool that can quickly pick up specialist terminology and nomenclature are another; and, generally, it's for people who care about productivity.

TechCrunch

It was a perfect teachable moment for the team about the value of modeling concepts at full scale, about the power of rapid but usable prototypes, and about the value of being able to work on the fly.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

With technology and equipment getting smaller and more handy and with the endless stream of apps and functions available on cell phones and other mobile devices, this course will furthermore investigate how this gives the artist the ability to work on the fly and produce most of their artwork on site.

Stanford University

Despite the rivalry in decoding the human genome, the work described here was a collaboration between a team of scientists led by Dr. Venter and another led by Dr. Gerald M. Rubin, the University of California biologist who directs the public consortium's work on the fly.

The New York Times

We had to work on the fly.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In contrast to previous works, on-the-fly generation of twiddle factors as in [43 45] used the CORDIC algorithm or related generation designs to compute the needed twiddle factors instead of performing ROM accesses.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

> -wrap-foot> Our approach works on-the-fly, meaning every time siblings are generated, the pipeline (Fig. 3) is re-run with the given seed terms.

Bioinformatics

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

Other features the company is working on include on-the-fly cut suggestions (because it knows when you moved the phone the scene probably changed) and adaptive regional contrast enhancements.

TechCrunch

The "Arthur" script has gone through an unusual circular rewriting process: It was drafted by Peter Baynham, who won an Academy Award nomination for his work on the similarly rewritten-on-the-fly "Borat".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "work on the fly", ensure the context clearly indicates that the lack of preparation is either necessary or a demonstration of skill. Avoid using it when meticulous planning is expected.

Common error

Avoid situations where "work on the fly" is seen as a substitute for necessary preparation. Clearly convey whether improvisation is a deliberate strategy or a forced compromise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work on the fly" functions primarily as a verbal phrase indicating the ability to adapt and improvise in real-time without extensive preparation. Examples on Ludwig highlight its usage across diverse contexts, such as journalism, art, and problem-solving situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "work on the fly" is a versatile phrase used to describe adapting and improvising in real-time. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's considered grammatically correct and sees usage across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Academia. While generally neutral in tone, it leans towards informal and might require more formal alternatives in professional or academic settings. When using the expression, remember to showcase adaptability as a strength rather than a compromise. The phrase emphasizes resourcefulness and responsiveness in dynamic situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

improvise on the spot

This emphasizes the immediate and spontaneous nature of the action, highlighting the lack of prior preparation.

adapt in real-time

This highlights the continuous and immediate adjustment to changing circumstances as they happen.

adjust on the go

This focuses on the ability to make changes while in motion or during the progression of an activity.

react dynamically

This underscores the responsiveness and flexibility required to deal with unforeseen events or changing conditions.

figure it out as you go

This emphasizes the problem-solving aspect, suggesting a discovery process during the task itself.

play it by ear

This refers to making decisions based on the immediate situation rather than following a plan.

think on your feet

This emphasizes the mental agility required to come up with solutions quickly.

handle it spontaneously

This highlights the natural and unplanned way of dealing with something.

make it up as you go

This implies inventing or creating something without prior planning or knowledge.

extemporize solutions

This emphasizes delivering or performing something without prior preparation or rehearsal, specifically solutions.

FAQs

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

You can use "work on the fly" to describe situations where someone is improvising or adapting to changes in real-time. For example, "The project manager had to "work on the fly" when unexpected challenges arose."

What's a more formal way to say "work on the fly"?

In more formal settings, consider using phrases like "adapt in real-time" or "improvise strategically" to convey a similar meaning as "work on the fly", while maintaining a professional tone.

Is "work on the fly" suitable for academic writing?

While "work on the fly" is understandable, academic writing often benefits from more precise language. Depending on the context, consider alternatives such as "adapt methodologies in response to evolving data" or "modify experimental designs iteratively" instead of "work on the fly".

Which is correct, "work on the fly" or "working on the fly"?

Both "work on the fly" and "working on the fly" can be correct, depending on the sentence structure. "Work on the fly" is often used as a noun phrase or to describe a general approach, while "working on the fly" is used as a verb phrase to describe an ongoing action. For example, "I prefer to "work on the fly"" versus "I was "working on the fly" during the presentation".