The Parlour. Language Room

☝️Today's great expression:
👂To play by ear - tocar de oído, improvisar, hacer algo sobre la marcha.
This expression, which is mostly used in informal contexts, comes from the world of music🎻
If I start playing Vivaldi's Four seasons BY EAR, then I am playing it -or attempting to play the music- without reading it or looking at the sheet music 🎼
I am playing form memory. So basically; I am using my EARS to play. I am playing it all by ear.

Use it when you don't have a game plan. Let's see it in context;
1. We are still in the planning stage, so if they ask us for more details and deadlines tomorrow, let's just play it by ear.
2. I've invited 30 people to the party but I've no idea how many are gonna come. We'll just play it by ear.
3. It was clear that the president stopped following his speech and started playing it by ear.

We all have to play it by ear sometimes don't you think?