by the seat of pants
by the seat of (one's) pants
Without a clear plan or direction. Often used in the phrase "fly by the seat of (one's) pants." I know my parents think that I'm just flying by the seat of my pants ever since I dropped out of college, but I just signed with a record label and am launching my singing career!
See also: by, of, pant, seat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*by the seat of one's pants
Fig. by sheer luck and use of intuition. (*Typically: fly ~; make it ~.) I got through school by the seat of my pants. Pilots who are in fog and using only instruments are flying by the seat of their pants.
See also: by, of, pant, seat
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
by the seat of (one's) pants
Informal1. In a manner based on intuition and experience rather than method: He ran the business by the seat of his pants.
2. Without the use of instruments: an inexperienced pilot who had to fly the aircraft by the seat of her pants.
See also: by, of, pant, seat
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
seat of one's/the pants, by the
Using experience, guesswork, or instinct rather than some calculated or scientific method. The term originated among World War II aviators, who so described flying when instruments were not working and/or weather interfered with visibility. It was transferred to other activities in subsequent decades. M. Walker used it in The National Front (1977): “Mussolini had governed by the seat of his pants.”
See also: by, of, seat
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- by the seat of (one's) pants
- by the seat of one's pants
- by the seat of your pants
- seat
- seat of the pants, by the
- by the seat of the pants
- poop (one's) pants
- cream (one's) pants
- cream one’s pants
- crap (one's) pants