on the spur of the moment
6
4.4
- idiom
:
de improviso
- Look, I don't make major life decisions on the spur of the moment like this.
- decided on the spur of the moment
- made on the spur of the moment
- bought on the spur of the moment
Examples
-
I bought them on the spur of the moment.
Fiction book (1992) -
On the spur of the moment, I reached up and peeked behind them.
Fiction book (1999) -
I just came on the spur of the moment.
-
Doing things on the spur of the moment was half the fun.
Fiction book (1990) -
I decided on the spur of the moment to come here.
Fiction book (1993) -
On the spur of the moment, I asked, "Do you still play much, Marv?"
Fiction book (1999) -
For her to propose a weeknight dinner out on the spur of the moment is utterly out of character.
Academic text (2011) -
So, on the spur of the moment, you've come to Providence Canyon.
Fiction book (1998) -
Ilya excelled at making up fairy tales on the spur of the moment.
Fiction book (1993) -
We decided to go to the beach on the spur of the moment.
Synonyms
121
2.8
Immediately at the exact place where something happens, often needing a quick response
49
3.5
In a quick, careless way
37
6.3
Done or said without preparation
24
5.8
To do something suddenly without planning
23
3.2
Acting quickly with little care
14
5.3
Quickly while you do something, without planning
12
5.5
A sudden decision made without thinking
12
5.1
Act quickly because you suddenly want to, without thinking first
7
6.3
Said or done immediately without careful thought
7
6.1
When you feel strong feelings and act without thinking
2
9.9
Said or done without planning beforehand
In a way that is not planned beforehand
Antonyms
How Spontaneous
Surface Forms
Morphology
on + the + spur + of + the + moment
The meaning 'suddenly, without planning' can be inferred from combining 'spur' (an impetus or stimulus) with 'moment' (a very short time) — i.e. acting on an impulse in the moment — so a learner who knows the constituent senses can reach the intended meaning. However, 'spur' is used figuratively here and the full fixed prepositional phrase is conventionalized, so the relation is not completely literal or fully predictable for all learners.
Etymology
The phrase on the spur of the moment may come from horse riding. A rider touches a horse with a metal spur to make it move at once, so the phrase means 'suddenly, without planning'.