schnapp-ab

12:37 Mar 12, 2020 

'Winging it' would have been my second choice. What's more, Michael has the endorsement of three esteemed site users.

16:09 Mar 10, 2020 

but my own sense is that, while a great idea, 'cutting it fine' sounds a trifle too realistic. "Schnapp-ab" suggests to me that someone is always courting with disaster but has created this myth or expectation about himself that he will always be able to pull things out of the fire in the end.

15:16 Mar 10, 2020 

An esteemed site user (German native) has PMed the following suggestion: cutting it close. My inclination is to go with the more BE version: cutting it fine. This incorporates the idea of cutting/snipping (Wendy).
Thanks to Antje for confirming what the ESU also suggested, namely that he borrowed other students' notes. Not quite so disreputable after all, especially if he actually attended the lectures but was concentrating on listening to and absorbing the message rather than just taking it all down in dictation.
Ramey: Yes, I also get the impression that he prides himself on having been a 'lazy genius' at uni.

11:36 Mar 10, 2020 

It's quite possible that he wants to underscore his innate brilliance, that his success cannot be due to formal learning but to his inborn abilities. Hence, improvising and copying in school.

11:24 Mar 10, 2020 

brinkmanship?

09:33 Mar 10, 2020 

"kopiert" means that he copied other students' lecture notes rather than writing his own

04:16 Mar 10, 2020 

I wonder if "kopiert" means he was a follower rather than a leader.