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Jan 9, 2024 · The correct phrase is “play it by ear,” not “play it by year.” “Play it by ear” means taking a situation as it comes, rather than planning ahead. Similar phrases include “go with the flow,” “wing it,” and “make it up as you go along.”
I've come across a few cases where I needed to write this phrase and I cannot determine which is correct. Do we "play it by ear" or "play it by year"? I'm using this with the intended meaning of something like "we'll figure it out as we go". I'm not using it in any sort of musical sense.
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Is 'play by year' a correct idiom?
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Is “play it by ear” the correct phrase?
Nov 9, 2022 · You might have heard this phrase and wondered, “Is it ‘play by ear’ or ‘play by year’?” This can be especially confusing if you’re not familiar with the English language and its use of idioms. The short answer is that it’s ‘play by ear.’
Mar 26, 2024 · The correct phrase is “play it by ear,” not “play it by year.” “Play it by ear” means managing a situation as it occurs without prior planning. It can be used in both literal and figurative senses. Alternatives to “play it by ear” include “wing it” and “make it up as you go along.”
Oct 12, 2023 · The phrase “play it by ear” is the correct version. People incorrectly use “play it by year” due to it sounding similar. When spoken quickly, it can be easy to miss the difference between the two words. But is there anything we could make of this other phrase, “play it by year?” The Origins Of “Play It By Ear”
Jan 14, 2024 · “Play it by year” is a phrase that refers to the idea of using an instrument’s age as a determining factor in how it should be played, maintained or set up. It suggests that instruments...
Feb 27, 2024 · The phrases ‘play it by ear’ and ‘play it by year’ are often confused with each other. ‘Play it by ear’ means to improvise or do something without a plan or preparation. On the other hand, ‘play it by year’ is an incorrect version of the phrase that doesn’t have any intended meaning.
