[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./
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