Схватить на лету

"Схватить на лету" is a Russian phrase that describes a "fast learner":

Translated nearly word-for-word:

• схватить (s'hvatit) = "to grab/grasp"
• на (na) = "on/in"
• лету (letu) = "flight"

Perhaps we could translate "на лету" to a more familiar idiomatic English phrase: "on the fly". Thus, we get someone who "grasps on the fly", i.e. "learns quickly" (no matter the situation)!