What is the meaning of play it by ear?

verb

  • Decide on one's actions as one goes along, depending on the situation.
    • usage: "She didn't know what to expect from her new job, so she played it by ear"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
9
 
|15 years ago|703 views|share |citing 
APAWordNet. (2010). play it by ear. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/play_it_by_ear/definitions/1302622
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "play it by ear" http://smartdefine.org/play_it_by_ear/definitions/1302622 (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, play it by ear, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/play_it_by_ear/definitions/1302622>.
MLAWordNet. "play it by ear" 23 October 2010. Web. 21 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/play_it_by_ear/definitions/1302622>