cop out

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cop out

Where it comes from

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

verb cops out · copping out · 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.
  2. To plead guilty and ask for mercy.
  3. idiomatic, slang To blame; to assign blame to; to get into trouble. His lawyer copped him out on just one felony charge.
  4. US, dated, idiomatic To remove from a situation or crowd, such as for arrest or punishment. Somebody should have copped him out last night.
  5. To leave a gang. I can't believe you copped out on us.
  6. idiomatic, slang To abandon, let down or betray (someone). She thought I'd copped out on her.
  7. idiomatic, slang, transitive To win (someone) over; to get on (someone's) good side.

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