channel surf

Meaning

To 'channel surf' means to quickly switch from one television channel to another using a remote control, usually looking for something interesting to watch or because one is bored. It is a casual expression used in informal conversations.

Examples

• I spent an hour just channel surfing instead of actually watching a movie.

  I spent an hour just channel surfing instead of actually watching a movie.

• My dad likes to channel surf during the commercial breaks.

  My dad likes to channel surf during the commercial breaks.

• We were channel surfing and stumbled upon a really interesting documentary.

  We were channel surfing and stumbled upon a really interesting documentary.

• Stop channel surfing and just pick something to watch!

  Stop channel surfing and just pick something to watch!

• I usually channel surf for a few minutes before going to bed.

  I usually channel surf for a few minutes before going to bed.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I was surfing the channels of the TV.

  ✓ I was channel surfing.

  'Channel surf' is a compound verb. You don't need to say 'surfing the channels of the TV' as it sounds unnatural and wordy.

• ✗ Let's do some channel surf tonight.

  ✓ Let's channel surf tonight.

  'Channel surf' is a verb, so you should use it directly rather than making it a noun phrase with 'do some'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I often ___ when I'm bored and can't decide what to watch.

  💡 Quickly switch between TV stations.

  Show answer

  channel surf

• He was just ___ for half an hour before he finally turned off the TV.

  💡 Continuous form of the action of switching channels.

  Show answer

  channel surfing