To play by ear


Play就是玩的意思。可是,play by ear的意思并不是“玩耳朵”。这个词汇的来源和音乐有关系。它原来指的是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。可是play by ear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。例如,你被请到某处去讲话,可是又没有时间准备。你就可以对听众 说:


例句-1:"I haven't had a chance to prepare any notes so all I can do is start talking and play it by ear."

这话的意思是:“我今天没有什么准备,所以就只好讲到那儿就算那儿了。”


下面一个例子是一个人在和朋友约会:

例句-2:"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."

他说:“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!”

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