play by ear

Language: en

Meaning: (transitiveandintransitive,ofmusic)Toplayguidedby one'smusicalperceptionandintuition, rather than from awrittenscore.; (transitiveandintransitive,idiomatic)To do byguessing,intuition, ortrialanderror; toreacttoeventsas theyoccur, often withriskofnegativeoutcomes; toimprovise.If they ask for something we didn't prepare, we will have toplayitby ear.2001August 30,Shakira, “Whenever, Wherever”, inLaundry Service‎[1]:There over, hereunder / Or up above, don't wonder / We can alwaysplay by ear/ But that's the deal, my dear

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