cop out

cop out

1. verb To avoid something, often sneakily or due to cowardice. Don't cop out of this by not coming to the disciplinary meeting—you need to take responsibility for your actions!
2. verb To break one's commitment to someone or something. I said I'd go to the birthday party, but I didn't have anything to wear and copped out at the last minute. Unfortunately, I wasn't surprised when Steve tried to cop out.
3. verb To plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid a trial or a more severe punishment. If you don't want to go to jail, I think your best option here is to cop out.
4. noun An unsatisfactory answer, excuse, or reason for something. When used as a noun, the phrase is typically hyphenated or written as one word. The Beatles are your favorite band? Geez, what a cop-out—everybody likes the Beatles! You need to take responsibility here, so don't give me some lame copout about why you can't go to the disciplinary meeting.
See also: cop, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

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
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • fix on
  • fix on (someone or something)
  • cross over
  • blow
  • blown
  • bootleg
  • cook out
  • going to
  • fall out
  • fallout
References in periodicals archive
OBSESSED: Daniel Jarrousse, 22, and Sacha Jones, 18, are on Beauty School Cop Outs on MTV
PAIR VANITY; High maintenance Midlanders in reality show
Since Beauty School Cop Outs was cancelled after just one series, Jeremy went on to garner some exposure as a contestant onCelebrityBig Brother.
Jeremy McConnell shows off new flat as he moves out of former MTV co-star's family home while carrying out community service; The reality star is currently working off 200 hours of unpaid labour
The 23-year-old, from Kensington, has been picked for Beauty School Cop Outs, a new reality series which teaches eight wannabe beauticians how to become proficient at waxing, tattooing, hair and make-up.
New MTV show no cop out for city star Calvin; Beyonce tribute act in beauty skills TV programme
When it comes to tackling crime, West Midlands cops are cop outs. In their own report they admit getting worse at doing their job - with no sign of improvement.
Sunday Mercury says: It's a cop out
It was thought McConnell would be staying with his friendRichard Cull, with who he starred in MTV's Beauty School Cop Outs. Richard was also in Make Or Break with his girlfriend Sophii Vassallo and ITV2's Bromans.
Jeremy McConnell relaxes in hotel bed after hard day's graft of community service - but has he got female company? The convicted criminal seems to have perked up his unpaid work sentence; The convicted criminal seems to have perked up his unpaid work sentence
Beauty School Cop Outs sees the rowdy bunch living together in Manchester and under expert guidance in a salon where they're given the opportunity of a lifetime to kick-start their beauty careers.
Model Jez cops off & out
Savannah Kemplay met Jeremy on MTV show Beauty School Cop Outs in 2013 and they dated on and off for two years.
Stephanie Davis fires back at Jeremy McConnell's ex Savannah Kemplay after she brands their relationship "toxic"; The former Hollyoaks star later deleted all trace of her comments where she called Savannah "fame hungry"