Are you really capable of speaking ad lib?

Today’s English
October 3rd, 2017

Expect the unexpected and then nothing will threaten you being unexpected.  Our planning won't always go as we expected or planned. How to express your feelings on such contexts is our today's concern.
Have you seen people to think, decide or act on the spur of the moment? Yes, they act without any pre-planning.  They have such a readiness of mind.

1. How do you get these ideas? Just at the spur of the moment.
2. She always makes decisions on the spur of the moment depending upon the situation and need.

You may prepare what to speak in a meeting or a gathering. But if you forget, what will you do? You have to speak “ad lib” that means that you are doing it without preparation or practice.
1. Oh my god! I forgot all the points. Now I have to do it ad lib.
2. What about her practice? Will she speak well? No problem, she can even talk ad lib.

If you do anything without thinking about it, you do it "on autopilot" which needs no effort on your part.  The phrase “play something by ear" also means the same. (You decide what to do while things are going on, not with any pre-plan.)  You may finish eating when you watch TV. You may study for exam while you are coming by bus.  Anyhow you finish two activities at the same time.  The phrase “on the hoof” is used if you do anything while you are moving or doing something else.

1. Just I did it on autopilot.  Still I wonder how I did it.
2. What's your plan? Nothing. Just I will play it by ear.
3. We have just 10 minutes. How will you get ready for the programme? Don't worry. I can finish it on the hoof while eating.

“Most people want to be circled by safety, not by the unexpected. The unexpected can take you out. But the unexpected can also take you over and change your life. Put a heart in your body where a stone used to be.”
- Ron Hall