flying by the seat of one's pants

A form of fly by the seat of one's pants — To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of fly by the seat of one's pants
Cite this entry
APA

flying by the seat of one's pants. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flying%20by%20the%20seat%20of%20one's%20pants

MLA

“flying by the seat of one's pants.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flying%20by%20the%20seat%20of%20one's%20pants. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “flying by the seat of one's pants,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/flying%20by%20the%20seat%20of%20one's%20pants.

Source: flying by the seat of one's pants on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.