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Glite Dictionary
to cop out

to cop out

5 7.8
Avoid a task you should do by making an excuse
  • phrasal verb
  • /kɑp aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : escaquearse
  • What he doesn't do is allow you to cop out of managing your money by making excuses like "I don't make enough money to save any of it" or "I don't want to be a penny pincher."
  • gets to cop out
  • going to cop out
  • cop out," she said

You can't cop out without full cooperation.

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Examples

  • But that’s a cop-out for those not willing to relentlessly analyze everything to the point that it’s no fun for anyone anymore.

    Blog text (32)

  • Don't cop out on this.

    Other Voices (2000)

  • If he cops out, then I'll help you.

    Dressed to Kill (1980)

  • Come on, Jack, don't cop out.

    Blacula (1972)

  • You can't cop out and not give me an explanation.

    Anything Else (2003)

  • They'd rather cop out and take the easy route, regardless of its consequences.

    Blog text (15)

  • I mean, that's just a cop out, Nik.

    Hungry Wives (1972)

  • Well, I think that is an absolute cop-out—if something goes wrong, you just wash your hands of it," said Lord Turnbull.

    Blog text (11)

  • He decided to cop out of the meeting instead of addressing the issues at hand.

  • You can't just cop out of your responsibilities when things get tough.

Synonyms

to get out
vsto cop out
  • Informal
462 3.8

Avoid doing a task or taking blame you should accept

avoids doing what is required often through excuses or withdrawal rather than only escaping punishment
to back out
vsto cop out
  • Informal
79 3.4

Decide not to do something you promised to do

is about avoiding duties or responsibility in general, not only broken promises
to opt out
vsto cop out
50 3.5

To choose not to take part in something

involves avoiding responsibility often through excuses or withdrawal rather than a free choice
to chicken out
vsto cop out
  • Informal
42 6.2

Decide not to do something difficult or risky because you are afraid

avoids tasks through excuses or withdrawal rather than from mere fear
to shirk
vsto cop out
19 6.3

To avoid doing work because it is hard or unpleasant

focuses more on using excuses or withdrawing responsibility rather than simple neglect
to weasel out
vsto cop out
  • Informal
10 8.2

To avoid doing something you should do by being dishonest or tricky

avoids responsibility by excuses or withdrawal rather than by deceitful tricking
to pussy out
vsto cop out
  • Offensive
9 9.9

To back out of something because you feel afraid

avoids responsibility by excuses or withdrawal using neutral language rather than crude terms

Antonyms

to take responsibility
193 3.3

To admit you caused a problem and accept the blame

to face up
  • Informal
38 4.1

To accept and deal with a difficult situation directly and bravely

How Avoidant

to abdicate
  • Formal
23 8.0
to shirk
19 6.3
to cop out
  • Informal
5 7.8
to duck out
  • Informal
12 7.2
to opt out
50 3.5
to decline
272 3.4

Surface Forms

cop out infinitive
copped out past
copped out past participle
copping out present participle
cops out third person singular

Morphology

cop + out

The meaning 'to avoid responsibility' is not derivable from the literal senses given: 'cop' (to take/suffer or police officer) and 'out' (to expose) do not compose to yield 'avoid' or 'shrink from duty'. This is an idiomatic phrasal verb whose sense must be learned as a whole, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituents would not reliably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Cop out may come from old slang where cop meant 'to take', so to cop out is like taking the out — grabbing an easy way out of a task. That's why it means 'to avoid doing something you should do' or to avoid responsibility.