zap

channel-zapping

Quickly switching between channels on a TV, as while looking for a program to watch. I'm channel-zapping, but it doesn't look like anything good is on. After a long week of work, I need a few hours of channel-zapping on the sofa. I hate channel-zapping. I can't understand why people don't just pick a program and watch it!

zap

1. To give someone or something an electrical shock. The wires zapped me when I touched them. I just need to zap the battery to get the car started.

2. slang To shoot someone or something with a laser or something like a laser. You have to zap the bad guys in the game with the laser gun! Doctors are trying an experimental procedure where they zap the cancerous tumor with a ray of ionized particles.

zap out

1. To eliminate something that is unwanted or undesirable using some intense, eradicating energy or force, such as radiation or electricity. The controversial procedure uses a series of controlled electrical shocks to zap out violent or negative impulses. The electromagnetic device claims to zap out 99% of germs in a room after a single 30-second cycle.

2. To deplete the resources of someone, something, or oneself. A noun or pronoun can be used between "zap" and "out." The freak snow storm quickly zapped out the city's meager supply of salt used to keep the roads free of ice. The grueling work schedule zapped me out of all my energy.

See also: out, zap

zapped

slang Physically or mentally exhausted. I've been studying for nearly six hours straight, so I'm feeling pretty zapped! My mom was always really zapped at the end of her workday, but she still found the energy to read to me and my little sister before bed.

See also: zap

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

zap out

Interrupt or delete unwanted parts of a television program or video, as in We've taped the show and now we can zap out all the commercials. [c. 1980]

See also: out, zap

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

channel hopping

and channel surfing and channel zapping

n. using a remote control to move quickly from one television channel to another, pausing only a short time on each channel. I wish you would stop channel hopping! He spends more time channel zapping than actually watching.

See also: channel, hop

channel zapping

verb

See channel hopping

See also: channel, zap

zap

1. tv. to shock someone. That fake snake zapped me for a minute.

2. tv. to kill someone. The stress from it all nearly zapped him.

3. tv. to impress someone. My big idea really zapped the boss. I may get a raise.

4. tv. to stun someone with an imaginary ray gun. He zapped me with a water gun.

5. exclam. Wow! (Usually Zap!) He said, “Zap!” indicating that he really liked the present, I guess.

6. tv. to defeat someone or a team. Fred zapped Britney in the spelling bee.

7. in. to zip or move to somewhere very fast. He’s zapping to the drugstore for some aspirin.

zapped

1. mod. tired; exhausted. I’m too zapped to go on.

2. mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. We all got zapped and then went home.

See also: zap

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.