play by ear

play by ear
{v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn't need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go along; to fit the situation. - Used with "it". * /John decided to play it by ear when he went for his interview./ * /It was her first job and she didn't know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • play by ear — ► play by ear 1) perform (music) without having to read from a score. 2) (play it by ear) informal proceed instinctively according to circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan. Main Entry: ↑play …   English terms dictionary

  • play by ear — If you play by ear, you deal with something in an impromptu manner, without guidelines or rules. It refers to playing music without using written notation …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • play by ear — play a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music Although she can t read music at all she can play by ear and is a great musician …   Idioms and examples

  • play by ear — phrasal : to deal with (as a situation) without previous planning or instructions * * * play by ear To play on a musical instrument without the help of written music • • • Main Entry: ↑ear play by ear see under ↑ear1(see also ↑play it by ear… …   Useful english dictionary

  • play by ear —    To play by ear means to improvise or act without preparation, according to the demands of the situation.    (Music : to play by remembering the tune, without printed music.)     It s hard to know how the situation will develop. Let s just play …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Play by ear — The phrase play by ear has several meanings, some of which are listed below:*Improvisation, the act of inventing all or part of a process as it is performed *Learning music by ear, a term used to describe learning how to play a musical piece… …   Wikipedia

  • play by ear — play a tune after hearing it without looking at musical notes …   English contemporary dictionary

  • play by ear — {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn t need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • play\ by\ ear — v. phr. 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear. Joe doesn t need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and can… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • play by ear — англ. [плэй бай и/э] играть по слуху см. также ear …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

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