winging
Making it up
Winging is the present participle of wing, used as a verb meaning to fly or to travel by air: Birds were winging their way south.
More commonly, winging appears in the phrase winging it—improvising or proceeding without preparation: I hadn't studied, so I was just winging it on the exam.
The idiom suggests relying on instinct rather than planning.
Speak without preparation
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- unscriptedNot pre-written
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
on-the-spot · unrehearsed · make-do · offhand · spur-of-the-moment · unprepared · freestyling · improvisation
Ascend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- flapOne-sided attached cover
- hoverRemain suspended midair
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
wingspan · airborne · swoop · flutter · avian · fledgling · bird · plumage
Not held back
- unfetteredFree from restriction
- unboundNot tied down
- liberatedReleased from confinement
- carefreeFree from anxiety
spontaneous · uninhibited · unshackled · free-spirited · unconstrained · loose · breezy · easygoing
Possibility of harm
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- doubtLack of firm belief
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
apprehension · tentativeness · speculation · gamble · chance · uncharted · unknown
extemporize
Speak without preparation
- ad-libUnscripted speech or remark
- unscriptedNot pre-written
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
unplanned · on-the-spot · unrehearsed · make-do · offhand · spur-of-the-moment · unprepared · freestyling · improvisation · busking
soar
Ascend to heights
feathers · wingspan · airborne · swoop · flutter · avian · fledgling · bird · plumage · pinion
unrestrained
Not held back
- unfetteredFree from restriction
- unboundNot tied down
- liberatedReleased from confinement
carefree · spontaneous · uninhibited · unshackled · free-spirited · unconstrained · loose · breezy · easygoing
risk
Possibility of harm
- unpredictabilityState resisting forecasts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- doubtLack of firm belief
anxiety · apprehension · tentativeness · speculation · gamble · chance · uncharted · unknown
wingingpreparing
Making ready beforehand
rehearsing · planning · practicing · studying · scripting
winginggrounded
Stable and realistic
ground · walking · crawling · earthbound · stationary
- winging itProceeding without preparation
wing, winged, wings, underwing, wingers, unwinged, overwing, left-winger, right-winger