- (to) cop out
- • to 'chicken' out of something or retire early due to laziness, go back on a promise.
Londonisms dictionary. 2014.
(to) cop out
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Cop Out (2010 film) — Cop Out Official poster Directed by Kevin Smith Produced by Marc E. Platt Polly Johnsen Michael Tadross … Wikipedia
Cop out — is an idiom which means to avoid taking responsibility for an action, fulfilling a duty or meeting expectations; as a noun, it refers to someone who cops out . Cop out or cop out may also refer to: Linda Lavin Raffaele Cecco Cop Out, a 1969 book… … Wikipedia
cop-out — cop outs N COUNT: usu sing (disapproval) If you refer to something as a cop out, you think that it is a way for someone to avoid doing something that they should do. [INFORMAL] Wallowing in guilt about the past is a cop out that prevents you from … English dictionary
cop out — by 1942, n. and v., sneak off, escape, Amer.Eng. slang, probably from cop a plea (c.1925) plead guilty to lesser charges, probably from northern British slang cop to catch (a scolding, etc.); Cf. cop a feel grope someone (1930s); see COP (Cf.… … Etymology dictionary
cop out (of something) — ˌcop ˈout (of sth) derived (informal) to avoid or stop doing sth that you should do because you are afraid, lazy, etc • You re not going to cop out at the last minute, are you? related noun ↑cop out Main entry: ↑cop … Useful english dictionary
cop-out — n informal something you do or say in order to avoid doing or accepting something ▪ There is plenty to do on your own doorstep; to look further is a cop out … Dictionary of contemporary English
cop-out — cop ,out noun count INFORMAL something you say or do to avoid doing what you should do: Telling him you re ill sounds like a cop out to me … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
cop-out — cop′ out n. 1) cvb an act or instance of copping out 2) cvb inf a person who cops out • Etymology: 1940–45 … From formal English to slang
cop-out — ☆ cop out [käp′out΄ ] n. Slang the act or an instance of copping out, as by confessing, reneging, quitting, etc … English World dictionary
cop out — [v] abandon, quit back down, back off, back out, backpedal, desert, dodge, excuse, give the slip*, have alibi, rationalize, renege, renounce, revoke, skip, use pretext, welsh, withdraw; concepts 121,156 Ant. be ready, face, ready, take on … New thesaurus
cop-out — n excuse, dodge, evasion, fraud, pretence, pretext, alibi COLLOQ. get out, shirking, passing the buck * * * ˈ ̷ ̷ ˌ ̷ ̷ noun ( s) Etymology: cop out, verb (herein) 1. : an excuse for copping out … Useful english dictionary
