on the fly

phrase

1

: in motion : busy

2

: while still in the air : without the ball bouncing

The home run carried 450 feet on the fly.

3

: in a hurry and often without preparation : hastily, spontaneously

making decisions on the fly

4

: simultaneously with another task

software that handles formatting on the fly

Examples of on the fly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In years past, mainstays like Trent McDuffie or Bryan Cook might have been around to help teach on the fly. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026

Traffic signals can adjust on the fly based on actual congestion. — Lee-Lean Shu, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Then the researchers piped apple cider vinegar into that airstream, switching it on and off depending on the fly’s position on this virtual field. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026

Buffalo Traffic Jam are adapting to overnight success on the fly. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026

Rhymes for on the fly

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi