Play (something) by ear

You know, honey, I’d rather not travel on a schedule. Let’s get there and then play it by ear, you know, be spontaneous.

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English Idiom: Play (something) by ear

If you play something by ear, you react to things as they happen and do not have a plan for how you’ll respond or for what you’ll do.

Many people prefer to have a plan when they go on vacation.

Some people like to know beforehand where they will stay, what souvenirs they can buy and even where and what they will have for dinner.

Then other people enjoy playing it by ear.

These people prefer to see what happens, want to be flexible, and enjoy making decisions on the spur of the moment, not weeks in advance.

This post is understandable by someone with at least a 7th-grade education (age 12).

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