by the seat of one's pants
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To achieve through instinct or to do something without advance preparation.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Common questions
What does “by the seat of one's pants” mean?
To achieve through instinct or to do something without advance preparation.
Is “by the seat of one's pants” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.