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Glite Dictionary
copout

copout

3 7.5
An excuse that avoids doing something difficult or unpleasant
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːpaʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : excusa
  • If that's what the author is referring to in this language, that's a pathetic copout.

Examples

  • I used to think that having kids was, like, a total copout.

    Jack and Jill vs. The World (2008)

  • I don't think that's a copout at all.

    Blog text (20)

  • I feel like it's a copout sometimes.

    Blog text (29)

  • Saying we're prisoners of the situation is just a copout.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Therefore, I expect the July 2010 decision to contain so many conditions that it is effectively a copout.

    Blog text (22)

  • To my way of thinking, it's one of the standard copouts.

    Blog text (4)

  • I'm starting to think that not setting clear entry criteria is a bit of an irresponsible copout.

    Blog text (5)

  • Many people consider blaming others a copout when faced with their own mistakes.

  • He used a last-minute excuse as a copout to avoid the difficult conversation.

  • Instead of facing their problems, they often make a copout by pretending everything is okay.

Synonyms

runaround
vscopout
  • Informal
12 6.4

A series of answers or actions that delay help

avoids taking responsibility directly rather than just blocking answers
putoff
vscopout
  • Informal
8.4

An excuse people use to delay or avoid doing something

aims to avoid facing difficulty or responsibility directly

Antonyms

confrontation
294 4.5

A situation when people or groups meet in direct conflict, often angrily

acceptance
104 2.7

Being approved or welcomed by other people

How Responsible

leadership
510 3.5
responsibility
∞ 2.7
copout
  • Informal
3 7.5
avoidance
39 3.7

Surface Forms

copout singular
copouts plural

Morphology

copout = cop (semi-transparent) = out + cop

The noun comes from the phrasal verb 'cop out' (cop + out); the components are visible but the idiomatic sense 'an excuse/avoidance' is not fully predictable from the parts for many learners. [Postprocessing: moved 'out' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word copout looks like cop + out, and a helpful way to remember it is to imagine someone 'taking themselves out' of a difficult situation to escape responsibility. That's why a copout is an excuse or an easy way to avoid facing a problem.