on the spur of the moment
/ɒn ðə ˌspɜːr əv ðə ˈməʊmənt/INFORMAL · C2
Meaning
suddenly, without having planned beforehand
Examples
- 1We had no plans for Saturday, then booked a boat trip on the spur of the moment.
- 2Did you plan that speech, or make it up on the spur of the moment?
- 3Passing a pottery shop, I unexpectedly signed up for a class on the spur of the moment.
- 4Nobody had suggested a picnic until lunchtime; we decided to have one on the spur of the moment.
- 5The idea had never occurred to me before; I invited everyone home on the spur of the moment.
Grammar
A fixed adverbial phrase. Keep on and both occurrences of the; use spur-of-the-moment before a noun.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about time
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →lose track of timeto stop noticing how much time has passedhave time on your handsto have free hours with nothing that needs doingbide your timeto wait patiently for a suitable opportunity to actthe time of your lifean exceptionally enjoyable experiencein the nick of timejust before it becomes too latebetter late than neverdoing something late is preferable to not doing it
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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