"Play it by Ear" Idiom Meaning, Origin & History | Superduper English Idioms
Channel: Superduper English Idioms
Date: 27/03/2021

0:00 - How to Say, “Play it by ear…”
0:25 - Examples of “Play it by ear…”
1:10 - Meaning of “Play it by ear…”
1:30 - Origin of “Play it by ear…”
3:11 - More Examples of “Play it by ear…”
4:06 - Conclusion

“Play it by ear…”

When someone says they are going to “play it by ear,” it means they will go ahead without preparation or a specific plan - they’ll deal with issues as they arise, make decisions when they need to be made.

“I think our roadtrip will be more fun if we play it by ear, so let’s not make any definitive plans,” your friend might suggest.

Maybe you ask your friends where they plan to hike, “We have no idea! Let’s play it by ear.”

“Playing it by ear may not be the best idea. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” your dad might be giving you advice regarding your new business.

As you can see, if you “play it by ear”, you are going to go ahead with something, taking it as it comes, dealing with matters only when necessary, making impromptu decisions.

The origin of the idiom, “play it by ear”, comes from music and the ability of a musician to play without printed notation.

When a musician “plays it by ear”, she or he is able to play a tune from memory, follow along with another musician, or make up the tune as it’s being played.

We often encounter situations when we have no choice but to “play it by ear”, and in those situations we can only rely on our past experiences and abilities.

However, people often choose to “play it by ear” when it would’ve been better to plan ahead, make contingency plans, plan things out, plan for failure, etc.

It perhaps is not a good idea to be lazy and simply “play it by ear”, when you could’ve made plans!

You may have to “play it by ear” sometimes, though; but if you keep a cool head and don’t let emotions fire you up, you should be fine.

“We encountered a lot of unforeseen problems, but we played it by ear the best we could,” your friends might be telling you about how they constructed their own cabin in the woods.

Perhaps your friend is worried about starting a new job, “Don’t worry! Play it by ear, you have a lot of experience,” might come your advice.

“In a relationship, you always have to play it by ear! Just act how you think is best, while keeping calm,” you’re giving your friend relationship advice.

So, the next time you’re going to go ahead without any plans, without decisions, without thinking about your choices, without considering contingencies, just remember that you’re “playing it by ear”!

#superduperenglishidioms #englishidioms #idioms #proverbs

References: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-play-it-by-ear