| 词汇 | play it by ear |
| 释义 | Idiom play it by ear to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops rather than planning how you are going to react.I'm not sure how long I'll stay at the party. I'll just play it by ear. play by ear1. To play a piece of music without referencing sheet music or a recording. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "play" and "by ear." Wow, George is such a talented piano player! The way he can play pieces by ear after hearing them just once is so impressive! Just because he can play by ear doesn't mean he's a great songwriter. 2. By extension, to make decisions about what action to take in an adaptive, flexible way, based on the circumstances. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "play" and "by ear." A: "Are we meeting at noon on Saturday?" B: "Around then. I have to run some errands in the morning, so let's play it by ear." play something by ear1. to be able to play a piece of music after just listening to it a few times, without looking at the notes. I can play "Stardust" by ear. Some people can play Chopin's music by ear. 2. and play by ear to play a musical instrument well, without formal training. John can play the piano by ear. If I could play by ear, I wouldn't have to take lessons—or practice! 3. to improvise; to decide one's next steps after one is already involved in a situation. If we go into the meeting unprepared, we'll have to play everything by ear. He never prepared his presentations. He always played things by ear. play by ear1. Play a musical instrument without the aid of written music, as in By the time she was four, she could play a dozen songs by ear. [Late 1600s] 2. play it by ear. Proceed gradually, depending on the circumstances; improvise. For example, I'm not sure how much we should say about our plans, so let's play it by ear. [Mid-1900s] play it by earIf you play it by ear, you deal with things as they happen, rather than following a plan or previous arrangement. `Where will we stay in Gloucestershire?' — `Oh, I guess a bed-and-breakfast place. We'll have to play it by ear.' I don't know what will happen next. I'm playing it by ear. Note: If someone plays a piece of music by ear, they play it without looking at printed music. play (something) by ˈear1 play (music) which you have heard or remembered but which you have not seen written down: She can’t read music very well, so she plays all the tunes by ear. 2 (also play it by ˈear) (informal) decide how to act in a situation as it happens or develops, rather than by planning in advance: You can’t really prepare for the questions the interviewer will ask — you’ll just have to play it by ear, I’m afraid. play it by ear To act according to the circumstances; improvise: I don't have a set schedule, so we'll have to play it by ear. play it by ear, toTo improvise; to act as the situation requires, without advance planning. This term for playing instrumental music without reading the notes from a score, but simply going by the sound, dates from the seventeenth century. It was not transferred to other kinds of improvisation until the mid-twentieth century. |
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