【原句】John decided to play it by ear when he went for his interview.【解说】Play (it) by ear 原是音乐用语，指某人凭记忆把听过的音乐弹奏出来。由此引申出“见机行事，随机应变，看情况而定”的意思。Play (it) by ear 强调事件的“即兴”成分，没有计划、依据当时情况而行事，很有“走一步是一步”的味道。
