Fig.: to improvise or handle a situation as it unfolds without a previous plan

The speaker misplaced his notes for the final part of his speech, but he knew the matter well and managed to play it by ear, finishing his presentation with confidence

Il relatore aveva smarrito gli appunti per la parte finale del suo intervento, ma conoscendo bene l'argomento, è riuscito a improvvisare, concludendo la sua presentazione con sicurezza

I didn't plan anything for the weekend. I'll see what the weather's like and I'll play it by ear

Non ho programmato niente per il prossimo weekend. Vedrò com'è il tempo e deciderò sul momento cosa fare

"Playing by ear", in music, refers to musicians performing pieces without sheet music, relying only on their senses. It denotes adaptability and a readiness to adjust rather than strictly following a plan. This expression was then adopted in non-musical contexts involving flexible decision-making.