Play it by ear
English Idiom
Meaning: To approach a situation without a set plan, using improvisation or creativity to deal with circumstances as they arise. It often involves adapting to unexpected changes and making decisions spontaneously.
Origin: The phrase 'play it by ear' originally comes from the world of music, where musicians might play a piece without reading from written music, relying instead on their ears to guide them. This practice of improvisation has been around since at least the 16th century and eventually made its way into everyday language to describe dealing with situations without a fixed plan.
Examples
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When the power went out during the presentation, we had to play it by ear and continue without the slides.
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Sarah didn't prepare a speech for the wedding and decided to play it by ear, speaking from her heart in the moment.
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The weather forecast was uncertain, so we decided to play our beach plans by ear and see how the day developed.
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In a rapidly changing market, successful entrepreneurs often need to play it by ear and adapt their strategies on the fly.
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During the meeting, the CEO chose to play it by ear, addressing concerns as they came up rather than following a strict agenda.
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With no set itinerary for their trip, the couple played it by ear, exploring new places whenever they felt like it.
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The director encouraged the actors to play it by ear during the rehearsal, allowing them to bring their own creativity to the scene.
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The coach told the players to play it by ear during the game, adjusting their tactics based on how the opposing team performed.
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When the restaurant was unexpectedly closed, we had to play it by ear and find another place to eat on the spot.
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Faced with an unpredictable situation at work, Jane decided to play it by ear rather than stress over a rigid plan.
