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channeling

channeling

1 6.0
Acting like another person to copy their style or behavior
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃænəlɪŋ/
  • Informal
translation icon : imitación
  • I think Jerry's channeling Deepak Chopra.

it's not man's channeling, it's not black man channeling.

Examples

  • His performance in BLOOD is a masterpiece of observation, bold creativity, and channeling figures from the past (John Huston is an obvious inspiration among others that are not so obvious).

    Blog text (4)
  • I thoroughly enjoy both "Sister Acts," but in the first, Whoopi does a FANTASTIC channeling of my 2nd and 3rd grade nuns when she's in front of the choir.

    Blog text (11)
  • I'm channeling love through this episode.

  • You end up just channeling an inauthentic version of yourself to fake it and avoid the shame.

  • It's interesting to see him toggle between this very academic language and then channeling that anger.

  • Obviously there was always the darkness that he was channeling, channelling in order to present the happiness.

  • I think Santos was channeling a slightly different singer, the wickedly talented one and only dozen.

  • The decisive turn taken by Michelangelo's architecture in 1524 or 1525 may have much to do with the Pope's channeling of his protégé's inspiration.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The performance was a perfect example of channeling the emotional depth of classic jazz singers.

  • Her talent for channeling the energy of the crowd made the concert unforgettable.

Synonyms

imitation
vschanneling
19 3.0

Copying another person's actions or speech to learn from them

is about intentionally expressing another's style or era, not exact copying
borrowing
vschanneling
10 3.4

Taking words, ideas, or styles from other people and using them in your work

involves fully expressing another's style, not just using borrowed elements
mimicry
vschanneling
2 4.6

Copying someone's voice, face and actions to entertain or trick people

is about deliberate artistic expression of another's style or era
taqlid
vschanneling
9.9

Copying the ideas, style, or behavior of someone else

is about expressing another's style, character, or era rather than copying content
personation
vschanneling
9.1

To pretend to be another person by copying how they act, usually to trick or entertain

is broader, also applying to expressing character or era styles not only people
copyism
vschanneling
9.1

Imitating another person's actions or words instead of behaving independently

refers to a deliberate single act of expressing another's style or era
mimetism
vschanneling
9.9

A habit of copying how other people act, speak, or dress

is about intentional, creative expression of another's style or character

How Faithful

channeling
  • Informal
1 6.0
impersonation
30 5.7
copying
20 1.0

Surface Forms

channeling singular
channelings plural
channelleds plural
channelled singular

Morphology

channeling = channel (semi-transparent) = channel + ing

This sense is a metaphorical extension of 'channel' (to direct) meaning 'to direct one's behaviour/qualities toward resembling another'; the morphological formation is regular but the specific sense 'imitate/express the style of' is not strictly compositional for all learners.

Etymology

Channeling can also mean copying or showing the style of someone else, and a helpful way to remember this is to imagine you are a channel or canal letting their energy 'flow' through you, so you act like that person.