on the fly
Without prior planning
On the fly means while in motion or in the midst of activity, without stopping to plan or prepare.
Software updated on the fly changes while running.
A decision made on the fly happens in the moment rather than being worked out beforehand.
The phrase suggests improvisation and adaptability—handling things as they come rather than in advance.
Unscripted speech or remark
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- jury-riggedTemporarily fixed with scraps
- thrown-togetherAssembled hastily, without care
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
cobbled-together · patchwork · ad-hoc · stopgap · provisional · workaround · kludge · hack
Done without advance planning
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- off-the-cuffUnplanned, unrehearsed
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
unscripted · snap-decision · instinctive · impulsive · offhand · impromptu · winging-it · seat-of-the-pants
Program execution duration
- dynamicActive and changing
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
- just-in-timeExactly when required
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
on-demand · hot-swapping · live · compilation · rendering · processing · generation · caching
ad-lib
Unscripted speech or remark
- makeshiftTemporary, improvised substitute
- jury-riggedTemporarily fixed with scraps
- thrown-togetherAssembled hastily, without care
impromptu · cobbled-together · patchwork · ad-hoc · stopgap · provisional · workaround · kludge · hack · band-aid
spur-of-the-moment
Done without advance planning
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- off-the-cuffUnplanned, unrehearsed
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
unrehearsed · unscripted · snap-decision · instinctive · impulsive · offhand · impromptu · winging-it · seat-of-the-pants · quick-thinking
runtime
Program execution duration
- dynamicActive and changing
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
- just-in-timeExactly when required
streaming · on-demand · hot-swapping · live · compilation · rendering · processing · generation · caching · updating
- Quick Decisionssnap judgment, gut feeling, impulse buy, quick pick, split second
- diner lingoAdam and Eve, eighty-six, 86, cup of joe, moo juice
- restaurant lingoeighty-six, in the weeds, all day, heard, behind
- workaroundsworkaround, workarounds, fixes, hacks, quick fix
- cookingbaking, chop, boiling, dice, mince
- speedspeed, quickness, rate, velocity, pace
on the flypremeditated
Planned before acting
preplanned · in advance · ahead of time · preconceived · predetermined
on the flycarefully
With deliberate attention
meticulously · painstakingly · thoroughly · deliberately · considerately
on the flyoffline
Not internet-connected
in advance · beforehand · ahead of time · at rest · after the fact
fly, flying, flyer, airborne, flyers, aeronautics, on-the-fly