Meaning of the word "play it by ear" in English

What does "play it by ear" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

play it by ear

US /pleɪ ɪt baɪ ɪr/
UK /pleɪ ɪt baɪ ɪə/

Idiom

to decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than planning in advance

Example:
We don't have a fixed plan for the trip; we'll just play it by ear.
I'm not sure what time I'll finish work, so let's just play it by ear for dinner.