cop

cop¹ S3 [kɔp US ka:p] n

[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: copper 'police officer' (19-21 centuries), from COP² 'to arrest' (19-20 centuries)]

1.) informal a police officer

▪ the local cop

▪ a narcotics cop

▪ He pulled out his badge and said he was a cop.

2.) not be much cop

BrE informal to not be very good

▪ They say he's not much cop as a coach.

3.) it's a fair cop

BrE spoken used humorously when someone has discovered that you have done something wrong and you want to admit it

cop ²

cop² past tense and past participle copped present participle copping

v [T] spoken informal

[Date: 1700-1800; Origin: Perhaps from Dutch kapen 'to steal', from Frisian kapia 'to take away']

1.) cop itBrE

a) to be punished or spoken to angrily because you have done something wrong

▪ You'll cop it when Mum finds out!

b) to be killed

2.) BrE to receive something, especially something that you do not want

▪ I copped all the blame for what happened.

3.) cop hold of sth

BrE used to tell someone to hold something

▪ Cop hold of the other end, will you?

4.) cop an attitude

AmE to behave in a way that is not nice, especially by showing that you think you are better or more intelligent than other people

5.) cop a feel

AmE to touch someone in a sexual way when they do not want you to

6.) cop a plea

AmE to agree to say you are guilty of a crime in order to receive a less severe punishment

▪ Dunn copped a plea to avoid going to jail.

7.) cop a buzz

AmE to feel the effects of taking illegal drugs or drinking alcohol

cop off phr v

to meet someone and start a sexual relationship with them

cop off with

▪ The hero falls in love with Dee but eventually cops off with the more desirable Clare.

cop out phr v

to not do something that someone thinks you should do

▪ As far as I'm concerned, she's copped out and joined the rat race.

→↑cop-out