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Phrase(s): play by ear
Go to play something by ear., Phrase(s): play something by ear
1. to be able to play a piece of music after just listening to it a few times, without looking at the notes. • I can play "Stardust" by ear. • Some people can play Chopin’s music by ear. 2. and play by ear to play a musical instrument well, without formal training. • John can play the piano by ear. • If I could play by ear, I wouldn’t have to take lessons—or practice! 3. to improvise; to decide one’s next steps after one is already involved in a situation. • If we go into the meeting unprepared, we’ll have to play everything by ear. • He never prepared his presentations. He always played things by ear.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Play a musical instrument without the aid of written music, as in By the time she was four, she could play a dozen songs by ear. [Late 1600s] 2. play it by ear. Proceed gradually, depending on the circumstances; improvise. For example, I'm not sure how much we should say about our plans, so let's play it by ear. [Mid-1900s]
American Heritage Idioms