Why Do We Say ‘Winging It’?
It might make sense to think that the phrase “winging it” — which is defined as “doing or trying something without much practice and preparation” — relates to birds or planes. But in reality, it’s a term that was coined by thespians and stagehands of the late 19th century. Recorded
mentions of “wing” as a verb (in this context) date back to the 1880s, when it appeared in a theater periodical called Stage magazine: “‘To wing’.. indicates the capacity to play a rôle without knowing the text.” The writer further specified that it has to do with a performer receiving...
