pilot

be on automatic pilot

To function or do something automatically, without thinking about one's actions, generally because one has done something many times in the past. Also used in the shortened form, "be on autopilot." By the second week of data entry, I felt like I was on automatic pilot. Making bottles, changing diapers, and putting the baby to sleep were all challenging at first, but now I feel like I'm on automatic pilot when I do it. Sometimes I arrive at work without remembering how I got there, like I was on automatic pilot the whole time.

See also: automatic, on, pilot

drop the pilot

To dismiss someone who is trusted or relied on. They always seemed to have a strong working relationship, so I don't know why he dropped the pilot all of a sudden. I did drop the pilot on one of my closest advisers, once I found out he'd been leaking things to the press. How dare you drop the pilot on me now? You're only CEO because of my efforts behind the scenes!

See also: drop, pilot

on automatic pilot

Automatically, without thinking about one's actions, generally because one has done something many times in the past. Also used in the shortened form, "on autopilot." By the second week of data entry, I could fill in the spreadsheets on automatic pilot. Making bottles, changing diapers, and putting the baby to sleep were all challenging at first, but now I feel like I'm doing it all on automatic pilot. Sometimes I arrive at work without remembering how I got there, like I was on automatic pilot the whole time.

See also: automatic, on, pilot

on autopilot

(Functioning) automatically, without thinking about one's actions, generally because one has done something many times in the past. By the second week of data entry, I could fill in the spreadsheets on autopilot. Making bottles, changing diapers, and putting the baby to sleep were all challenging at first, but now I feel like I'm doing it all on autopilot. Sometimes I arrive at work without remembering how I got there, like I was on autopilot the whole time.

See also: autopilot, on

pilot (something) in(to something or some place)

To steer, guide, or direct an air- or watercraft in(to some particular thing or place). Here, son—why don't you take the wheel and pilot the boat in? We'll need to pilot the ship into harbor very carefully. You'd better start watching what your doing or you're going to pilot this plane right into a mountain!

See also: pilot, something

pilot (something) out (of something or some place)

To steer, guide, or direct an air- or watercraft out of or away from some particular thing or place. Here, son—why don't you take the wheel and pilot the boat out? There are a lot of other boats around, so we'll need to pilot the ship out of the harbor very carefully. Someone managed to waltz in with a fake ID, commandeer a jetliner, and pilot the damn thing right out of the airport!

See also: out, pilot, something

pilot (something) through (something or some place)

To steer, guide, or direct an air- or watercraft through some particular thing or place. There are a lot of other boats around, so we'll need to pilot the ship through of the harbor very carefully. Even without the use of his instruments, she was able to pilot the plane through the storm without a problem.

See also: pilot, through

sky pilot

slang A chaplain who serves in one of the military services. He suggested that I go speak with the sky pilot to talk through some of the moral issues I'd been trying to come to terms with. We all gathered around the sky pilot, who led us through a prayer before heading into combat.

See also: pilot, sky

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pilot someone or something through (something)

to guide or steer someone or something through something, especially through a waterway. We hired someone to pilot us through the harbor entrance. The channel was treacherous, and we hired someone to pilot the ship through.

See also: pilot, through

pilot something into something

 and pilot something in

to steer or guide something into something. (Usually refers to steering a ship.) We need to signal for a pilot to pilot our ship into the harbor. Fred piloted in the freighter.

See also: pilot

pilot something out of something

 and pilot something out

to steer or guide something out of something. (Usually refers to steering a ship.) The chubby little man with a pipe piloted the huge ship out of the harbor. The storm made it very difficult to pilot the ship out. Help me pilot out this old tub.

See also: of, out, pilot

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

on automatic pilot

or

on autopilot

COMMON If you are on automatic pilot or on autopilot, you are acting without thinking about what you are doing, usually because you have done it many times before or because you are very tired. Note: `Autopilot' is often written as `auto-pilot' in British English. Steve seemed to be on automatic pilot and able to go on driving without apparent fatigue. Note: You can also say that you go on to automatic pilot or on to autopilot if you start acting in this way. When the kids came home I just switched on to autopilot, making the tea, listening to them fight. Note: In aircraft, automatic pilot is a device which automatically keeps the plane on course without the need for the pilot to do much.

See also: automatic, on, pilot

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

drop the pilot

abandon a trustworthy adviser.

Dropping the Pilot was the caption of a famous cartoon by John Tenniel , published in Punch in 1890 . It depicted Bismarck's dismissal as German Chancellor by the young Kaiser Wilhelm II .

See also: drop, pilot

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be on ˌautomatic ˈpilot

do something without thinking because you have done the same thing many times before: I got up and dressed on automatic pilot.

The automatic pilot is the device in an aircraft that keeps it on a fixed course without the need for a person to control it. It is often shortened to ‘autopilot’: I did the journey on autopilot.

See also: automatic, on, pilot

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

sky-pilot

n. a chaplain. The sky-pilot says we can park in the church’s lot, if we don’t mess anything up or make too much noise.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.