fly by the seat of one's pants

== English == === Pronunciation === === Verb === fly by the seat of one's pants (third-person singular simple present flies by the seat of one's pants, present participle flying by the seat of one's pants, simple past flew by the seat of one's pants, past participle flown by the seat of one's pants) (idiomatic) To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment. (idiomatic, by extension) To use one's judgment, initiative, and perceptions as events unfold in order to improvise a course of action without a predetermined plan or without the desirable data inputs to decision making. Synonyms: play by ear, make it up as one goes along, wing it ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ====