channel-surf

[ chan-l-surf ]

/ ˈtʃæn lˌsɜrf /

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verb (used without object)

to change from one channel on a television set to another with great or unusual frequency, especially by using a remote control.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

Origin of channel-surf

An Americanism dating back to 1985–90

channel surfer, noun

People using it effectively opened a secret channel on an a public platform.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They get $8 million to dredge the channel for pleasure boats to sail to Catalina Island.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 2012 miniseries he co-starred in, Hatfields McCoys, was a ratings blockbuster for the History channel.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It cropped up on a Kurdish channel and on a local German channel.
Dutch Biker Gangs Vs. ISIS|Nadette De Visser, Christopher Dickey|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is the will directing the activity of the intellect into some particular channel and keeping it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The Intellect is‌ directed into a particular channel, but to keep it there, all intruders must be excluded.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
To guide his mind into the channel of the printed exposition, he calls into play the Directory power of the attention.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Attention is the Will directing the Intellect into some particular channel and keeping it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
Attention is directing the intellect into some particular channel and keeping‌ it there.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)