played by ear
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The cynical argued that he just didn't know quite what to do next; he had followed Huey's rule book to the point where things had to be played by ear, and had halted, baffled.
From Time Magazine Archive
He found out so many things that executives who played by ear couldn't answer that he rose swiftly to vice president.
From Time Magazine Archive
Leftists, too, discovered that Roosevelt would listen to them, but not always follow them: he played by ear.
From Time Magazine Archive
Sometimes he did finger exercises, sometimes he improvised, sometimes he played by ear.
From Time Magazine Archive
I played by ear and repeated it perfectly.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
