Synonyms

play it by ear

Cultural

To improvise: “Rather than plan an elaborate strategy, Andy decided to play it by ear.” Music played by ear does not follow written notes.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“As long as he’s in relatively good shape, you work him in and get him playing, and you play it by ear and eyes and see where he is after that.”

From Washington Times • Sep. 1, 2023

“I’m just going to play it by ear, see whichever one of the styles that work,” Taylor said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2023

Right now, it’s so new; I think it makes sense to play it by ear and be dynamic.

From The Verge • Aug. 2, 2022

"I am a planner, but I've now come to accept I can't prepare for everything and that sometimes you have to play it by ear."

From BBC • May 16, 2022

Nodding vaguely, he said, “Oh, well, sure, of course. We’ll just play it by ear then, pal, how’s that sound?”

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023