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cop out

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cop out

 (of something) and cop out (on something)

1. Sl. to withdraw from doing something. Are you copping out of this job? No, I'm not copping out!

2. S. to break one's promise about doing something. You said you would and now you are copping out of it. I'm not copping out. I just can't find the time.

3. Sl. to plead guilty (to a lesser charge). Frank copped out and got off with a night in the cooler.

See also: cop, out

cop out

(on someone) Sl. to break one's promise to someone. (See also previous.) Come on! Don't cop out on me! You promised me you would do it! Don't cop out now!

See also: cop, out

cop out

(on something) Go to cop out (of something).

See also: cop, out

cop out

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]

See also: cop, out

cop out

v.

To avoid fulfilling some commitment or responsibility: I was too tired to go out, so I copped out on my friends. The students copped out of cleaning up after the party.

See also: cop, out

cop out

1. in. to plead guilty (to a lesser charge). (see also cop a plea.) I decided not to cop out and got a mouthpiece instead.

2. in. to give up and quit; to chicken out (of something). Why do you want to cop out just when things are going great?

3. n. a poor excuse to get out of something. (Usually cop-out or copout.) That’s not a good reason. That’s just a cop-out.

See also: cop, out