channel (something) off
1. To remove or redirect something, usually a liquid, through a channel. You move things to higher ground while I try to channel some of this water off. Quick, get a funnel or something so we can channel this oil off. Whoa, these floodwaters are pretty deep. We'll need stronger equipment to channel them off.
2. To squander resources, such as money or time. Look, the company won't give us any more money for this initiative if those guys keep channeling it off. Mom and Dad won't bail you out with rent money this time if you channel your whole paycheck off. Hey, quit channeling your time off and get to work on your book report!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
channel something off
1. Lit. to drain off water or some other liquid through a channel. The front yard is flooded, and we will have to channel the water off. Let's channel off the water before it gets too deep.
2. Fig. to drain off or waste energy, money, effort, etc. Unemployment channeled their resources off. The war channeled off most of the resources of the country.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.