couch surfing

American  

[kauch surf-ing] / ˈkaʊtʃ ˌsɜrf ɪŋ /

noun

1. the practice of staying as a guest in the homes of friends or acquaintances while traveling or when lacking permanent housing, usually with hosts providing limited accommodations such as a couch or other informal sleeping arrangement.

2. the act or practice of sitting on a couch or sofa and watching TV, especially while switching from channel to channel.

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Example Sentences

Nine months after the fire, Comey is still couch surfing and his parents are living with a relative.

From MarketWatch

Temporary housing would help them find their footing, he said, because 70% of people who enter the program are effectively homeless, sleeping in their cars or couch surfing.

From Los Angeles Times

“We have women who have been couch surfing for a decade and wouldn’t consider themselves homeless until they realize, ‘Oh, I don’t actually have a place to go and be and have my baby.’” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

He once got by with couch surfing or working minimum-wage jobs to pay rent, but with Halifax’s skyrocketing housing costs, he can no longer afford a place to live.

From BBC

By the time Lee learned about the Foster Youth to Independence program through her social worker, she said she was couch surfing with friends, which the U.S.

From Seattle Times