wing it

present singular third person wings it · participle present winging it · participle past winged it · past winged it

1. informalTo improvise; to make things up or figure things out as one goes; to perform with little or no preparation.

   I don't know their system, but I think I can wing it.

   3 more examples

   I didn't study for today's test, so I'll have to wing it.

   Plus, early in a career, bands are typically winging it from a creative standpoint; after awhile, acts figure out what they’re doing right (or wrong), and are more deliberate about songcraft and execution.

   2017 January 20, Annie Zaleski, “AFI sounds refreshed and rejuvenated on its 10th album, AFI (The Blood Album)”, in The Onion AV Club

   “My [worry] is that after a week or more of mismanagement, I’m deeply concerned the government has made a difficult situation 10 times worse ... There is a growing concern the government is now winging it,” he said.

   2020 June 2, Rowena Mason, “Keir Starmer: 'Boris Johnson has to get a grip and restore public confidence'”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: fly by the seat of one's pants, improvise, make it up as one goes along, play by ear