split the ears

They reacted with a fury that split the ears.

He was a practical politician before he "took the stump" against Christianity, and at all times he has proved his capacity to "split the ears of the groundlings," and make the unskillful laugh.

On the stroke of 7.30 some 350 guns suddenly spoke with an overpowering din that racked the brain and split the ears.

The orchestra, we fear, must have rather "split the ears of the groundlings."

O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.