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Glite Dictionary
to make it up as one goes along

to make it up as one goes along

11 6.6
Decide or think of things during a situation without planning ahead
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : improvisar
  • She prefers to make it up as she goes along rather than sticking to a strict plan.
  • just make it up as one goes along

Examples

Synonyms

to come up with
vsto make it up as one goes along
∞ 2.7

To think of an idea or plan

focuses on inventing spontaneously during a situation rather than supplying a prepared solution
to improvise
vsto make it up as one goes along
141 4.0

Do something without planning, using what you have

focuses on inventing as situations develop without any preplanned approach
to think up
vsto make it up as one goes along
48 3.2

To make up an idea, plan, or excuse

involves inventing on the spot as events unfold rather than planned thought
to cook up
vsto make it up as one goes along
  • Informal
37 5.6

Invent a story or excuse to trick people

involves creating things during unfolding situations rather than fabricating with deceit
to wing it
vsto make it up as one goes along
  • Informal
28 6.1

Do something without planning or preparation and improvise

centers on inventing step by step as events happen rather than just fast thinking
to extemporize
vsto make it up as one goes along
1 9.0

To make or do something without planning

emphasizes inventing as situations develop rather than just speaking without prep
to cook up a plan
vsto make it up as one goes along
  • Informal
1 4.4

To think of a clever or secret plan to do something

is more spontaneous invention as events develop, not necessarily secret or clever plotting

Antonyms

to plan
∞ 1.0

To decide and arrange in advance how to do something

to prepare
∞ 1.0

Make something ready for use or an event

How Prepared

to plan
∞ 1.0
to rehearse
131 3.5
to make it up as one goes along
  • Informal
11 6.6

Surface Forms

make it up as one goes along infinitive
made it up as one goes along past
made it up as one goes along past participle
making it up as one goes along present participle
makes it up as one goes along third person singular

Morphology

make + it + up + as + one + go + along

The meaning 'to improvise' is directly derivable from combining 'make' (create) with the particle 'up' (assemble/invent) together with the temporal clause 'as one goes along' (while proceeding). This compositional, procedural sense is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can reasonably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The phrase make it up as one goes along gives the simple image of someone making things up while they go along, like inventing a story or plan step by step. So it means 'to improvise' or 'to invent without a plan'.