play it by ear
臨機応変にやる
解説 Definition
事前に計画を立てず、その場の状況に応じて臨機応変に対応すること。
To play it by ear means to decide what to do as a situation develops, instead of making a fixed plan in advance. It is commonly used for social plans, work, or any uncertain situation. This idiom is informal and often suggests flexibility.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
直訳は「それを耳でやる」。まず、楽譜を見ずに耳で聞きながら演奏する場面を思い浮かべると、そこから「細かく決めず、その場に合わせて進める」が自然につながる。plan ahead の反対寄りで、improvise に近いが、もっと日常会話で柔らかい表現。Let’s play it by ear. は「今は予定を固定せず、状況を見て決めよう」で頻出。by ear をひとかたまりで「耳頼み」と覚えると定着しやすい。
Think of a musician playing without sheet music, just listening and reacting by ear. That image helps: no fixed plan, just adjust as the situation changes. `Let’s play it by ear` is a common way to say, "We will decide later."
例文
We don't have a fixed itinerary for the trip — let's just play it by ear.
旅行の決まった日程はないから、臨機応変にやろう。
I'm not sure how the interview will go, so I'll play it by ear and respond naturally.
面接がどうなるか分からないので、臨機応変に自然に対応するつもりだ。
Since the weather is unpredictable, we'll play it by ear and decide tomorrow whether to have the picnic.
天気が予測できないので、ピクニックをするかどうかは明日臨機応変に決めよう。
play it by ear の類義語・関連語
紛らわしい語
play it by ear の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ear は古英語 eare で、句全体は楽譜なしに「耳で聞いて演奏する」音楽語法から出ました。目で読む代わりに耳を頼るので「成り行きでやる」と広がり、eardrum や earshot も同じ ear の仲間です。
The key word ear comes from Old English eare. The whole phrase began in music, where a player performed by listening instead of reading written notes. From that idea, it widened to mean handling a situation as it develops. Related English words include eardrum and earshot.
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