on the hoof

Slang Term British Unknown informal
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Meaning: while traveling / without planning

边走边做/临时决定
sobre la marcha / sin planificar
移動中に/計画なしで
이동 중에 / 즉석에서

Done while moving or without advance preparation. From livestock being sold before slaughter.

在移动中完成或没有事先准备就做。源自牲畜在屠宰前被出售的说法。
Hecho mientras uno se mueve o sin preparación previa. Proviene de la venta de ganado antes del sacrificio.
移動しながら、または事前の準備なしに行うこと。家畜がと殺前に売られていたことに由来。
이동 중이거나 사전 준비 없이 하는 것. 도축 전에 판매되는 가축에서 유래한 표현.

Examples

  1. I'll eat something on the hoof - no time for lunch.
    我边走边吃点东西吧——没时间吃午饭了。
    Comeré algo sobre la marcha, no hay tiempo para almorzar.
    移動中に何か食べるよ——昼食の時間がない。
    이동하면서 뭐라도 먹을게—점심 먹을 시간이 없어.
  2. We made the decision on the hoof.
    我们临时做了决定。
    Tomamos la decisión sobre la marcha.
    その場で判断した。
    그 결정은 즉석에서 내렸다.
  3. Planning on the hoof isn't ideal but sometimes necessary.
    走一步看一步虽然不理想,但有时也没办法。
    Planificar sobre la marcha no es ideal, pero a veces es necesario.
    行き当たりばったりは理想的ではないが、時には必要だ。
    즉석에서 계획하는 건 이상적이지 않지만 때로는 필요하다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: casual, busy

Tone: matter-of-fact

✓ Do Say

  • Describe doing things while moving
    描述边移动边做事时使用
    para describir hacer cosas en movimiento
    移動中に何かをすることを表現するとき
    이동하면서 무언가를 하는 것을 묘사할 때

✗ Don't Say

  • In American contexts - less understood
    在美式英语中不太常用
    En el contexto americano se entiende menos
    アメリカではあまり通じない
    미국식 영어 맥락에서—잘 이해되지 않음

Origin & History

From livestock trading where animals were sold 'on the hoof' (alive, still walking). Extended to mean while moving.

Cultural Context

Era: timeless

Generation: all ages

Social background: all

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