play it by ear
CulturalExample 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
“However, unlike the past, we will have to play it by ear because the course of our day depends upon how Mom feels.”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 23, 2022
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
At times I forget to tell you things and just play it by ear.
From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
