cop-out

[ kop-out ]

noun

, Informal.

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.

cop out

verb

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

noun

1. an instance of avoiding responsibility or commitment
2. a person who acts in this way

Word History and Origins

Origin of cop-out¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cop-out¹

C20: probably from cop ¹

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

The former president urged young people not to “cop out,” before ending on an uplifting call to “create a whole different future.”

From The Daily Beast

Blaming Tucson on the vile language in public discourse is a cop out.

From The Daily Beast

Cop Out was savaged by critics and just barely earned back its $30 million budget.

From The Daily Beast

"I wanted to start somewhere and not have the cop-out that you know it when you see it," she says from her Portland, Oregon, home.

From The Daily Beast

Carver argued back in a poem: “starving is more of a cop-out.”

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the burglar stopped and called to him softly: "Ain't there a cop out there in front somewhere sparking the girl?"

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Brownlee excused himself and followed the cop out, leaving me to explain things to His Grace.

From Project Gutenberg