cop-out

[ kop-out ]

/ ˈkɒpˌaʊt /

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See synonyms for cop-out on Thesaurus.com

noun Informal.

an act or instance of copping out; reneging; evasion: The governor's platform was a cop-out.

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

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of cop-out

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. 2023

How to use cop-out in a sentence

The former president urged young people not to “cop out,” before ending on an uplifting call to “create a whole different future.”
The CGI's 6 Best Moments|The Daily Beast Video|September 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Blaming Tucson on the vile language in public discourse is a cop out.
Tell the Arizona Shooting Victims That Guns Don't Kill|Harold Evans|January 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Cop Out was savaged by critics and just barely earned back its $30 million budget.
The '80s, Part II|Gina Piccalo|March 19, 2010|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.
What Makes Women Happy?|Marisa Meltzer|February 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Carver argued back in a poem: “starving is more of a cop-out.”
Carver Was the Rage|Brad Gooch|December 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
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

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

noun cop-out

an instance of avoiding responsibility or commitment

a person who acts in this way

Word Origin for cop out

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