rent an ear
The act of pulling a single ear bud out, so that you can continue to listen to your music while starting a relatively unimportant conversation. Based on the Shakespeare quote, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."
T: Here comes that annoying JW.
B (listening to ipod): What?
T: Jesse White is coming. She's always talking about her stupid vegetarian phase.
B: I'm in the middle of "The Nazz," by Lord Buckley, but I guess I'll rent an ear.
B (listening to ipod): What?
T: Jesse White is coming. She's always talking about her stupid vegetarian phase.
B: I'm in the middle of "The Nazz," by Lord Buckley, but I guess I'll rent an ear.