It's tough to complete "wing it on stage" in today's NYT Mini Crossword if you're not into public speaking. The tricky part is that many synonyms for "wing it" don't fit 5A.

Words like "improv" and "fake it" are too long, so you have to think differently. The best way to find the answer is to solve other down clues, like 3D and 6D. If that doesn't help, here are some hints to lead you to the right answer.

“By ear” or “bluff” are not the answers.

An infinitive verb that is synonymous with “to wing it” or “to improvise”.