cops and robbers

English

Etymology

From cops, and and robbers.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kɒps ˈænd ˈɹɒb.ə(ɹ)s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /kɑps ˈɛnd ˈɹɑ.bɚs/

Noun

cops and robbers (uncountable)

1. (playground games) A game played by schoolchildren in which the "robbers" have to steal "gold" and return it to their "base" without being caught by the "cops" and taken to "jail". When in "jail", "prisoners" can be "freed" by other "robbers".

Translations

schoolchildren's game