Quote Originally Posted by chaika
it listens well. That expression.

No, it does not sit well with me either and I would never say "it listens well". A book "reads well" but neither a play nor a line of thought "listens well."

Actually I can beg to differ here. While that phrase is not common ... I have heard it expressed that way.

For instance ... when referring to listening to a piece of music or a reading done out loud. One MAY (though not often) state "IT listens well" the IT in this case being the passage being read or the music being played, thereby actually lending itself to an easy listen to a person or group of people. Because there is a case that "something does not listen well" too. Like a bad piece of music or a passage that the wording makes no sense. So "it" does not listen well on the ears.

Does this make sense?

It is an antiquated way of phrasing something. (very outdated, but not entirely unheard of.)