Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Adverb Phrase 27. The adverb phrase today
is" on the fly. " Okay. Let's take a look at the note here.
The adverb phrase 'on the fly' has several meanings. If you are doing something on
the fly, you are doing it in a hurry without having the time to think about
it, or without being able to plan. You know , beforetime . So you have to just do it
on the fly. Okay. It could also have the meaning of
while in motion, while moving or it can also have the meaning of "while in the air." Okay. Let's
continue here. There are two theories of the origin. Some think it comes from an
older phrase on the wing , which, which is still around but not as common as on the
fly. Which used to mean' in the air or in motion' also. The second theory is that it
may come from baseball. When a player hits a ball into the air., it is referred
to as a fly ball. You know. as long as it hasn't hit on the ground yet.
It was hit directly up into the air and you know it could be a pop up or it could be
kind of a line drive up in the air but it has not hit the ground yet from the
bat anyway. Okay. When a catcher sees several players, players chasing a fly
ball... because that's what it is when it's in the air, a fly ball. He should signal to
make the call which player has the best chance of catching it on the fly. Yeah
I have heard this. Sometimes I think it's strange, but I guess it makes sense. You
know, because he's looking at it directly and he could see where the ball was
going. I don't know do all those players try to take a quick glance at the
catcher ? We do know that sometimes like if one ballplayer has the best chance
you know, if he's in position he's waiting he will call off the other players.
Like and they actually sometimes say " I got it.
I got it . " But if you know if they're all running all together you have to be
careful because sometimes you can have a collision. You know, everybody's looking
at the ball. Everybody's running and they (crashing sound ) hit into each other. That's what you want
to try to avoid because you could end up having two good players on the on the
disabled list or injured. I have seen that happen before where they both
crashed. They both hit each other and they both lying on the ground. You know,
maybe they hit their heads or something. It could happen. So when the ball is in
the air, the catcher is the one that is supposed to signal you know , well let
that guy have it. Okay. If it is missed you know, if the ball player who has the best
chance misses it. All other players could take it on the bounce. So that's why it's
on the fly and on the bounce. so the balls at it and it never touches the
ground yet is on the fly. If it already hit the ground. It's on the bounce. That's
where it comes from. Okay. Let's continue. And we actually have
several examples here. Let's look at the first example. I cannot predict what will
happen. You may have to see how it goes and make decisions on the fly. So this is
kind of like the first one we saying here you're doing something kind of hit
a hurry or you don't really have time to think about it or plan it, so you just
make may have to make decisions on the fly. Depending on how the situation goes
or how it works out. Number two. We don't have time to sit down someplace
for lunch we will just have to pick up something and eat it on the fly. Well,
this is two ways here. The first of all is like you're in a hurry and two it's kind
of while you're still moving while you're in motion. You know, you're not
really stopping. So you have to eat on the fly as well . Okay. Good. Number three here.
Well this one is actually directly from baseball. We still use it this way. That
centerfielder dove... So dove, his body left the ground. He dove into the air and
caught the ball on the fly. So the ball never hit the ground. So he made an out. He made a
very good catch. Okay. Good. And number four here. I didn't have a good answer when he
questioned me. I had to make something up on the fly. All right. So again. Just you
know immediately without preparation and so on. Okay. Anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it was
clear. Thank you for your time. Bye -bye.