wing it

Idioms  

1. Improvise, as in The interviewer had not read the author's book; he was just winging it. This expression comes from the theater, where it alludes to an actor studying his part in the wings (the areas to either side of the stage) because he has been suddenly called on to replace another. First recorded in 1885, it eventually was extended to other kinds of improvisation based on unpreparedness.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wing it

If you can wing it on your work break, the perfect nap time is just after lunch when the body takes a natural dip in so-called 'alerting signals' that regulate your sleep and wake.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

In other words, this isn’t the summer to wing it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

If you want to maintain any sort of surprise, you just have to wing it sometimes and hope your instincts are right.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2023

"The physics tells us that to get a more fuel-efficient wing it needs to be longer and more slender. That means we need to increase the span of the wing," Partridge said.

From Reuters ● Jul. 4, 2023

“I’ll adjust the chakra on Audrey and wing it to you.”

From "Educated" by Tara Westover