By the Seat of One's Pants——憑直覺及經驗

** by intuition, instinct, impulse, guess, or improvisation rather than logic or knowledge

~~憑本能；憑直感來猜測；憑感覺摸索行事；沒有仔細思考；依靠自己的判斷而沒有客觀依據

~~ based on experience // by feel // off the top of one's head // without preparation // without being planned // without previous thought // without rehearsal

!! This expression was invented by World War II aviators, who used it to describe when flying when instruments were not working or weather interfered with visibility, they must use instincts and feelings.

（這個表達由二戰飛行員發明，他們用來描述飛行時遇上儀器無效或天氣影響能見度，必須依靠本能和直覺。）

Aviation had improved by 1942 as indicated in Harper’s magazine: "When you check your instruments you find the airplane is doing a correct job of flying and that the seat of your pants and your eyes would have tricked you had been allowed to do the coordinating."

（1942年，Harper雜誌指出航空業有所改善：“當你檢查儀器時，你會發現飛機的功能是正確的，你的褲子和眼睛就會欺騙你，你被允許平穩駕駛。”）

>> There are many stock investors who buy and sell by the seats of their pants, and some even only know the stock number and do not make trading decisions based on information.

（不少投資人憑直覺買賣股票，甚至有部分只知道股票的編號，並沒依照資訊做交易決策。）

>> John went to a new market to run his business and didn't know anyone. He had no choice but to run the business by the seat of his pants.

（若翰到了一個新市場經營他的生意，甚麼人都不認識他，他只好全憑自己的直覺及經驗經營。）

學勤進修教育中心英語專科導師

李啟文　　教授