on-the-spot decision
- noun
:
decisión inmediata
- The chef often relies on on-the-spot decisions when adjusting recipes to suit the tastes of his customers.
- make on-the-spot decision
Examples
-
Doug had to make an on-the-spot decision.
Fiction book (2001) -
He describes the approach as "point-of-care pathology," part of a convergence of medical technologies that make it increasingly possible for surgeons and medical technicians to make informed, on-the-spot decisions about patient care.
Blog text (11) -
During the emergency, the paramedic had to make an on-the-spot decision about the best course of action.
-
In the meeting, Sarah impressed everyone when she made an on-the-spot decision to change the project direction based on feedback.
Synonyms
7
4.2
A quick choice made without thinking that often causes problems
7
4.8
A quick decision made without careful thought that may be unfair
2
3.5
A choice someone makes very late, just before something happens
1
5.2
A decision made quickly without careful thought
Choosing quickly without careful planning or thought
A decision someone makes at the last possible moment before a deadline
Antonyms
How Immediate
- Informal
7
4.8
187
4.2
2
3.8
26
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
on-the-spot + decision
The phrase is transparently built from 'on the spot' (meaning immediately, without delay) + 'decision' (a choice), so a learner who knows the constituent words can infer it refers to a decision made instantly. This compositional pattern is common and predictable cross-linguistically, so it should be clear to an average B1 learner.
Etymology
The noun on-the-spot decision comes from the image of a person standing on the spot with no time to move, so they must make a decision right away. That's why the phrase means 'made immediately' or 'without preparation'.