"to play by ear" : 到时候再看着办。
原来指那些会弹钢琴或某种乐器，但是却不会看五线谱的人。每当他们要弹奏某个曲调时，他们只能凭着上一回听到的记忆来弹。现在已经成为日常用语了，意思是做一件事不是事先有计划的，而是走着瞧，临时决定。
eg.
I haven't had a chance to prepare any notes so all I can do is start talking and play it by ear.
我今天没有什么准备，所以就只好讲到那儿就算那儿了。
I am not sure if my wife wants me to go shopping with her on Sunday. If she decides to go with her sister instead, then I can play tennis with you. Let's just play it by ear.
我还不知道星期天我太太是否要我陪她去买东西。要是她决定和她姐姐一起出去，那我就能和你去打网球。我们就瞧着办吧!
发表于 2007-9-23 15:40
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