Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic)Topilotanaircraftwithout the aid of instruments and without aflight plan, using onlyinstinct, visual observation, andpracticaljudgment.1955February 21, “Planes for Pleasure”, inTime:Between world wars, when Douglas Bader was a cocky, teen-age R.A.F. cadet . . . a man could navigate by eye and the nearest railroad track andfly by the seat of his pants.; (idiomatic,by extension)To use one'sjudgment,initiative, andperceptionsas events unfold in order toimprovisea course of action without apredeterminedplan or without the desirable data inputs to decision making.Synonyms:play by ear,make it up as one goes along,wing it2010January 14, Jacob Heilbrunn, “Election Confidential”, inNew York Times, retrieved25 June 2011:“Unlike Obama and his methodical process, McCain wasflying by the seat of his pants,” the authors observe.
Validation Count: 0
Sourced from Wiktionary