Fly by the seat of your pants 凭感觉试试看

The script of this programme 本节目台词

Chris: Hi, I'm Chris and I'm here today with Li.

Li: Hello.

Chris: Did you see that Superman film on television last night? I love Clark Kent. By day, he's just a regular guy, but he also has the power to fly! It's a classic movie.

Li: No, I didn't see it. 我房顶上的天线坏了，我也不会修。I can't watch anything at the moment.

Chris: That's a shame. If you want, I could have a look to see if I can fix it for you? I'd be flying by the seat of my pants, but it's worth a try.

Li: 什么你能飞? 就像超人那样飞？难道你也会像超人那样把短裤穿在裤子的外面？

Chris: No, I don't mean I can actually fly – and I'm certainly not putting my underwear on over my trousers! The phrase 'to fly by the seat of your pants' means to do something difficult without being trained to do it or really knowing how.

Is he flying by the seat of his pants?

Li: So I don't have to worry about actually seeing your pants?

Chris: No, Li, you don't have to see my pants – it's just a phrase.

Li: I see – 你的意思是虽然你并不内行，但你要试试看，争取帮我把天线修好。

Chris: Exactly. Let's hear some more examples of the phrase in action.

Examples

• This report has to be finished today but no one is here to show me how to do it. I'll be flying by the seat of my pants, but I'd better try.
• John is trying to put new tiles in the bathroom, as he won't pay for a decorator to do it. He is really flying by the seat of his pants.

Li: 听上去这个短语的意思就是虽然不懂但是想动手试试看。

Chris: People often use this phrase when they have to do a job quickly, but don't know how.

Li: So, do you think you can fix my aerial?

Chris: Well, I'll certainly give it a try – have you got a ladder, then…?

Later…

Chris: Well, there you go. I really did fly by the seat of my pants, but it looks like it's fixed.

Li: 真的！我来试试看… 哎，有了，有了，图像很清楚。 You know Chris, even though you don't have your pants like Superman, you really are my hero.

Chris: Erm… thanks.