cop-out
[ kop-out ]
/ ˈkɒpˌaʊt /
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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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!
Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of cop-out
First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase cop out
Definition for copout (2 of 2)
cop1
[ kop ]
/ kɒp /
verb (used with object), copped, cop·ping. Informal.
to catch; nab.
to steal; filch.
to buy (narcotics).
Verb Phrases
cop out,
- to avoid one's responsibility, the fulfillment of a promise, etc.; renege; back out (often followed by on or of): He never copped out on a friend in need. You agreed to go, and you can't cop out now.
- cop a plea.
Origin of cop
11695–1705; compare cap (obsolete) to arrest, Scots cap to seize ≪ dialectal Old French caper to take, ultimately < Latin capere
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for copout (1 of 4)
cop1
/ (kɒp) slang /
noun
verb cops, copping or copped (tr)
Word Origin for cop
C18: (vb) perhaps from obsolete cap to arrest, from Old French caper to seize; sense 1, back formation from copper ²
British Dictionary definitions for copout (2 of 4)
cop2
/ (kɒp) /
noun
a conical roll of thread wound on a spindle
mainly dialect the top or crest, as of a hill
Word Origin for cop
Old English cop, copp top, summit, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Old English copp cup
British Dictionary definitions for copout (3 of 4)
cop3
/ (kɒp) /
noun
British slang (usually used with a negative) worth or valuethat work is not much cop
Word Origin for cop
C19: n use of cop 1 (in the sense: to catch, hence something caught, something of value)
British Dictionary definitions for copout (4 of 4)
COP
abbreviation for (in New Zealand)
Certificate of Proficiency: a pass in a university subject
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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