cop-out

English

Alternative forms

• copout

Noun

cop-out (plural cop-outs)

1. (idiomatic) Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.

   His disappearance on the day of the audition was just a cop-out.

2. (idiomatic) An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.

   It was a cop-out to say he couldn't sign the petition because he sprained his wrist.

3. (idiomatic) A person who cops out.

   He's always a cop-out when there's hard work to be done.

References

• “cop-out” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
• "cop-out" in Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2007 Microsoft Corporation.
• "cop-out" in the Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus © Wordsmyth 2002.
• "cop-out" in Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, © 2006-2007 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.
• "cop-out" in Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press 2007.