I don't have a plan, so I'll just play it by ear.
play by ear
idiomTo do by guessing, intuition, or trial and error; to react to events as they occur, often with risk of negative outcomes; to improvise.
We didn't book a hotel, so we'll have to play it by ear when we arrive.
With no script and only a vague outline of the scene, the director told the actors to play it by ear and see what emerged.
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all ears
Listening intently; fully focused.
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all eyes and ears
Very attentive.
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are your ears burning
Asked of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
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beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
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believe one's ears
To believe that something which one hears is truly the case.
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bend someone's ear
To bore; to talk too long, especially to one particular person.
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box someone's ears
To slap someone on the side of the head, usually as an informal punishment.
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burn someone's ears
To cause blushing of someone's ears due to strong embarrassment.
Last updated April 17, 2026