He listened with half an ear, kept one eye on the door all the time.

He listened to the news reports with half an ear.

She listened with half an ear to what the rest of the class was doing.

He told me this and that, but I listened with only half an ear.

And he listened with half an ear to the conversation of two girls at the table next to his.

He only listened with half an ear to what Houston was telling the others.

The doctors at the Institute had told her what to watch for, but she'd only listened with half an ear.

And all the while he listens, with half an ear, for his final cue.

To me you have to listen with an ear that's open.

I was sitting below, huddled up, listening with all my ears.