▪ I. channel-hopping, n.
Brit. /ˈtʃanlˌ ˌhɒpɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈtʃænəl ˌ(h)ɑpɪŋ/
[‹ channel n.1 + hopping n.1, after channel-hop v.]
1. orig. U.S. = channel surfing n.
| 1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 24 July c6/1 ‘The T.V. Show’ is an hour-long, channel-hopping excursion through such bogus TV programs as ‘Bowling for Food’. 1990 M & M Europe Sept. 10/4 This is a headache for advertisers, because whoever gets fourth or fifth spot runs the risk of losing viewers because of ‘channel hopping’. 2000 V. Nell Cross-cultural Neuropsychol. Assessment vii. 138 In its extreme form, this [sc. distractability] is a headlong flightiness like continued TV channel-hopping, abandoning one thing for another as soon as it is begun. |
2. Chiefly Brit. Also with capital initial. The action or practice of travelling across the English Channel, esp. frequently or for a brief trip abroad.
| [1991 Toronto Star (Nexis) 1 June s4 (heading) English Channel-hopping.] 1992 Guardian (Nexis) 14 Mar. ii. 38 The Northern coast of France has attracted interest from British people buying holiday homes because of its proximity to the UK and the clear advantages of weekend ‘Channel hopping’. 1995 Sporting Life (Electronic ed.) 2 Oct. There hasn't been much time for casual Channel hopping. 1999 Evening Post (Bristol) (Electronic ed.) 12 Jan. Gemma's dad used to have a nice line in channel hopping. He would take his van over to France every week and bring back gallons of beer. |
▪ II. channel-hopping, a. Brit.
Brit. /ˈtʃanlˌˌhɒpɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈtʃæn(ə)lˌ(h)ɑpɪŋ/
[‹ channel n.1 + hopping adj.1, after channel-hop v. Compare earlier channel-hopping n., channel hopper n.]
That travels or conveys across the English Channel (see channel-hop v. 2).
| 1994 Northern Echo 30 May 7/3 Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke gave beer a reprieve in the Budget because of the threat to the British brewing industry from the sale of cheap products to Channel-hopping ‘booze-cruisers’ in France. 1996 Observer (Nexis) 24 Mar. 16 Many Channel-hopping Brits who paid over the odds during the boomette a few years ago are being forced to slash prices. 1999 Neath & Port Talbot Courier (Electronic ed.) 18 Aug. Its new look fleet of channel hopping ferries. |