cop out

See also: copout and cop-out

English

Etymology

Attested since 1942 as “flee, escape, cop (an) out”.

Pronunciation

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Verb

cop out (third-person singular simple present cops out, present participle copping out, simple past and past participle copped out)

1. (idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.

   Faced with the prospect of cooking for himself, his first thought was to cop out and order a pizza.

   • 2000, Bill Oddie, Gripping Yarns, page 67:

     There was no bird fair at Druridge so I didn't have to feel guilty about copping out of it.

2. To plead guilty and ask for mercy.

Synonyms

• weasel out

Derived terms

• cop-out (noun)
• copout (noun)

 

Translations

to avoid or shirk

• Finnish: laistaa (fi)
• French: se défiler (fr)
• Greek: λουφάρω (el) (loufáro)
• Russian: уви́ливать (ru) impf (uvílivatʹ), увильну́ть (ru) pf (uvilʹnútʹ), уклоня́ться (ru) impf (uklonjátʹsja), уклони́ться (ru) pf (uklonítʹsja), отверте́ться (ru) pf (otvertétʹsja)