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on the fly vs on-the-fly

Both "on the fly" and "on-the-fly" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "On the fly" is used to describe doing something quickly or spontaneously, while "on-the-fly" is used in computing jargon to refer to tasks that are performed while a system is running.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 979 views

on the fly

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe doing something quickly or spontaneously, without preparation.

Examples:

  • He had to come up with a solution on the fly during the meeting.
  • She's great at improvising on the fly.
  • Fire one rare steak on the fly.
  • Well, I switched on the fly.
  • It's just a matter of facing the consequences of immediate failure or the risks of trying to save the operation on the fly.
  • 'Cause making those decisions on the fly has been less than successful.
  • We'll filter the information to Jack Dawkins on the fly.
  • You don't think it was invented by a handful of Rednecks on the fly in Iraq.
  • We keep our distance, we plan on the fly.
  • Cosi 'on the fly, I would say that two symptoms compatible...
  • All right, I hit this 250 yards on the fly, you have to adhere to the no-scare moratorium.
  • Well, they'll need someone at the controls to process the math and adapt on the fly.
  • It's my own fault, taking this case on the fly.
  • Systems like the ones that we were creating on the fly could exist ahead of time.
  • That's why you always have to be ready to adjust tactics on the fly.
  • - Not yet. Lassie, I need a flourless chocolate cake, on the fly.
  • Wait, you just built all the indexes on the fly?
  • You're getting the guys to learn songs on the fly, you're playing shows that should be canceled.
  • The mark of a good operative is being able to adjust to changing loosing a teammate on the fly.
  • You may even select a different printer subsystem, on the fly, from the & kprinter; dialog box.
  • It's small, can we edit it on the fly?
  • You can make one of these brushes just on the fly.

Alternatives:

  • spontaneously
  • quickly
  • without preparation
  • improvising

on-the-fly

This phrase is correct and commonly used in computing jargon.

This phrase is used in computing to refer to tasks that are performed while a system is running, without stopping or interrupting the system.

Examples:

  • The software allows for on-the-fly updates without needing to restart the system.
  • The system can process data on-the-fly as it comes in.
  • K3b does not support writing on-the-fly with growisofs %1.
  • Unable to write on-the-fly with these audio sources.
  • Create scores on-the-fly by recording from mic
  • K3b will not be able to copy DVDs on-the-fly or write a DVD+RW in multiple sessions using a growisofs version older than 5.12.
  • On-the-fly writing with cdrecord < 2.01a13 not supported.
  • K3b is not able to normalize audio tracks when burning on-the-fly. The external program used for this task only supports normalizing a set of audio files.
  • You may not be able to find sentences that have been added recently because they have not been indexed yet. Indexation of sentences is not yet executed on-the-fly, only every week.
  • So this allows you on-the-fly molecular assembly.

Alternatives:

  • real-time
  • dynamic
  • while running
  • without interruption

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