Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cop out

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.37 in modern English

Syllables
cop out
IPA
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.

verb

To plead guilty and ask for mercy.

verb

To blame; to assign blame to; to get into trouble.

Slang

verb

To remove from a situation or crowd, such as for arrest or punishment.

American usage; Dated

verb

To leave a gang.

verb

To abandon, let down or betray (someone).

Slang

verb

To win (someone) over; to get on (someone's) good side.

Slang; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

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

Usage

Inflected Forms

cops out (present, singular) copping out (participle, present) copped out (participle, past) copped out (past)

Derived Forms

copout

Phrases

cop-out

Synonyms

goof off weasel out blow off cop out dog doss duck flinch goldbrick lollygag malinger procrastinate

Questions

What does cop out mean?
To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
Where does cop out come from?
Attested since 1942 as “flee, escape, cop (an) out”.

How to pronounce cop out

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cop out”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cop out”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cop out” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.