think on one's feet
React quickly, be mentally agile, as in Reporters bombarded him with difficult questions, but Bill was very good at thinking on his feet. This expression uses on one's feet in the sense of “wide awake, alertly.” [First half of 1900s]
Words nearby think on one's feet
think back, think better of, think big, think little of, think nothing of, think on one's feet, think out, think over, think piece, think positive, think tank
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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