spur of the moment
12
5.5
- idiom
- Informal
:
impulsivo
- On the spur of the moment, I decided to come along.
- done on the spur of the moment
I was really surprised because like I said, it was just spur of the moment and me, you know, not minding my filter.
- I was really surprised because like I said, it was just spur of the moment and me, you know, not minding my filter.
- I did Telegraph these questions, so I I may have phrased it slightly differently on the spur of the moment here.
- You have to because very commonly with an addiction, it's a spur of the moment decision to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or eat junk food.
- She doesn't really do good with spur of the moment danger things, right?
- I think, you know, the spur of the moment, OK, the brain's not engaged, but the heart is, you know, bump, do it.
Examples
-
Through Jaques-Dalcroze studies, teachers learn to invent music on the spur of the moment and to develop spontaneous musicianship in the students.
Academic text (1994) -
I bought them on the spur of the moment.
Fiction book (1992) -
I just came on the spur of the moment.
-
It's all 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) -
It's just a little spur of the moment thing that I threw together.
-
For her to propose a weeknight dinner out on the spur of the moment is utterly out of character.
Academic text (2011) -
Ilya excelled at making up fairy tales on the spur of the moment.
Fiction book (1993) -
We decided to take a spontaneous road trip at the spur of the moment last weekend.
Synonyms
78
4.4
Acting suddenly without careful thought because of a strong feeling
37
6.3
Done or said without preparation
24
5.8
To do something suddenly without planning
14
5.3
Quickly while you do something, without planning
12
5.1
Act quickly because you suddenly want to, without thinking first
11
6.3
Said or done without planning first
7
6.3
Said or done immediately without careful thought
7
6.1
When you feel strong feelings and act without thinking
6
4.4
To act suddenly without planning or thinking
4
5.8
Happening suddenly without planning, often as a quick decision
2
9.9
Said or done without planning beforehand
A decision made immediately with no planning
Antonyms
How Impulsive
193
3.6
- Informal
12
5.5
187
4.2
125
4.1
26
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'spur' (to push or encourage) with 'moment' (a very short time), so the idea of a sudden push at a particular instant leading to an impulsive action is derivable from the parts. However, understanding requires recognizing the noun/metaphorical use of 'spur' as an impetus, which may not be obvious to all B1 learners without exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase spur of the moment comes from riding a horse. When a rider touches the horse with the spur on their heel and the horse moves right away at that moment, the phrase means doing something sudden and 'without planning'.