To play it by ear is to act spontaneously and according to the situation. Playing it by ear means you have no game plan.

Playing music without sheet music originally meant that you either recalled the music or made it up as you went along. From there, it expanded to include various sorts of improvising. A quarterback will forgo the called play and try a new option if he plays it by ear. A politician is making it up as she goes along if she conducts a speech by ear. We all occasionally have to “wing it.”

Ever hear the expression “let’s play it by ear”?

If you hear someone say this, it suggests they don’t want to have a concrete strategy for anything. The speaker prefers to make a decision about what to do right away.

So, when we wish to be more adaptable with our ideas, we employ the expression “play something by ear.” It is frequently used in casual conversation, particularly when discussing less official arrangements like social or travel plans. This phrase has its origins in music, where “playing something by ear” refers to playing an instrument without using a music sheet.