Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
play-it-by-ear
idiom
/ˌpleɪ ɪt baɪ ɪr/
Definition
To deal with a situation as it develops instead of planning in advance.
Examples
- When the weather changed unexpectedly, we decided to play it by ear and see what everyone wanted to do.
- I didn’t have a set agenda for the meeting, so I thought I would just play it by ear and address the topics as they came up.
Meaning
This phrase means to approach a task or situation without a specific plan and to adapt as necessary based on the circumstances that arise.
Synonyms
- go with the flow
- improvise
- wing it
