cop-out

[ kop-out ]
See synonyms for cop-out on Thesaurus.com
nounInformal.
  1. an act or instance of copping out; reneging; evasion: The governor's platform was a cop-out.

  2. a person who cops out: Everyone helped as they had promised, except for one cop-out.

Origin of cop-out

1
First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase cop out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use cop-out in a sentence

  • Meanin' as you'll walk right in on Bud's tough bunch an' cop out d' Kid on y'r lonesome—eh?

    The Definite Object | Jeffery Farnol
  • Fritz has been over a good bit lately and we have to put out our lights as soon as it gets dark, else we'd cop out for sure.

    Combed Out | Fritz August Voigt
  • Suddenly the burglar stopped and called to him softly: "Ain't there a cop out there in front somewhere sparking the girl?"

    Whirligigs | O. Henry
  • He knew he was plain pastry for the Sharks, so he would hang around the first Tee waiting to cop out a Pudding.

    Ade's Fables | George Ade
  • Brownlee excused himself and followed the cop out, leaving me to explain things to His Grace.

    Nor Iron Bars a Cage.... | Gordon Randall Garrett

British Dictionary definitions for cop out

cop out

/ slang /


verb
  1. (intr, adverb) to fail to assume responsibility or to commit oneself

nouncop-out
  1. an instance of avoiding responsibility or commitment

  2. a person who acts in this way

Origin of cop out

1
C20: probably from cop 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cop-out

cop-out

Back out of a responsibility or commitment; also, take the easy way out. For example, Don't count on him; he's been known to fake illness and cop out, or She'll cop out and let her assistant do all the work. These meanings are derived from the underworld slang use of cop out for backing down or surrendering. [Late 1950s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.