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Introduction

Is it better to work out what you're cooking on the fly, or to follow a recipe? Learn a phrase to talk about improvising something.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei, and I'm here with Phil. Now, I should be telling you that you shouldn't eat in the studio - but that looks delicious! Where did you get the recipe for that, Phil?

Phil
I didn't - I just made it up on the fly. I started cooking and then looked to see what was in the fridge. It's a bit random, but it turned out alright. Do you want to try some?

Feifei
Oh thanks! And also, thank you for giving us a phrase to learn in this episode - 'on the fly'. It means that you decide what to do, as you are doing it. So, you do something quickly, without any preparation, improvising as you go along.

Phil
Yes, I was talking about making food - but it could be anything. If we didn't have a script for this programme we could just come in and make it up on the fly.

Feifei
If you are very good at something, then you can do it on the fly. For example, a simultaneous interpreter can come up with translations of what people are saying on the fly.

Phil
Let's hear some more examples of people using 'on the fly'.

Examples
I've got a job interview, and I haven't prepared so I think I'm going to have to make my answers up on the fly.

So, I'm supposed to be going on this backpacking trip tomorrow with a friend, but we haven't planned anything so we're just going to make it up on the fly.

I don't feel like this presentation is good at all. We just did it on the fly, we should have prepared more.

Feifei
'On the fly' also has some specific uses when talking about computers or cars. In these cases, it refers to things that can be done without interrupting the car or the computer programme.

Phil
Interesting, well I can't think of anything more to say on the fly, so let's end there! Bye!

Feifei
Goodbye!

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