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./