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
“We’ll just play it by ear every day. And that’s the thing. And yes, I know I’m not going to rush back before I have to,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 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
He explained he would "play it by ear" as the situation unfolds.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 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.
