on the hoof
Not yet slaughtered
On the hoof describes livestock that is alive, not yet slaughtered: cattle sold on the hoof, priced per pound on the hoof.
By extension, it means done while moving or without preparation—improvised, on the go: We made decisions on the hoof, eating lunch on the hoof.
The figurative sense is more common in British English.
- hasteExcessive quickness
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- livestockDomesticated farm animals
- live cattleUngulates raised for meat
beef cattle · abattoir · provisional · spontaneous · making it up · farming · ad hoc · quick and dirty · cattle · cattle drive · sheep · informal · herd · grazing · butchery · mobile · transient · improvised
livestock state
on the hoofdressed
Wearing garments
slaughtered · butchered · packaged · processed · on the hook
preparation/planning
on the hoofpremeditated
Planned before acting
rehearsed · scripted · deliberate · prearranged · by design