play by ear

present singular third person plays by ear · participle present playing by ear · participle past played by ear · past played by ear

1. intransitivetransitiveTo play guided by one's musical perception and intuition, rather than from a written score.
2. idiomaticintransitivetransitiveTo do by guessing, intuition, or trial and error; to react to events as they occur, often with risk of negative outcomes; to improvise.

   If they ask for something we didn't prepare, we will have to play it by ear.

   1 more example

   There over, hereunder / Or up above, don't wonder / We can always play by ear / But that's the deal, my dear

   2001 August 30, Shakira, “Whenever, Wherever”, in Laundry Service

   Synonyms: fly by the seat of one's pants, make it up as one goes along, wing it