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cop-out

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: cop out and copout

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Deverbal from cop out.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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cop-out (plural cop-outs)

  1. (slang) 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.
    • 2014 October 11, Simon Hattenstone, “Russell Brand: ‘I want to address the alienation and despair’”, in The Guardian‎[1], archived from the original on 1 July 2022:
      In the book, his conclusion is simple: capitalism is kaput, celebrity charity won’t plug holes, revolution is the only solution. Yet it also feels like a bit of a cop-out: he insists all this can be achieved through love, peace and understanding.
    • 2025 July 2, Catherine Shoard, quoting James Cameron, “James Cameron calls Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer a ‘moral cop-out’”, in The Guardian‎[2], →ISSN, archived from the original on 19 July 2025:
      “It’s interesting what he stayed away from,” said Cameron. “Look, I love the film-making, but I did feel that it was a bit of a moral cop-out.”
  2. (slang) 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. (slang) A person who cops out.
    He's always a cop-out when there's hard work to be done.
    • 1989 August 12, Kate Rushin, “Is Better Than Hollywood Good Enough?”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 5, page 8:
      Even when they are talking one-on-one, we aren't allowed to see behind the posturing and emblematic language. The major exception to this is Da Mayor […] who is both scorned and respected, seen as both a cop-out and a hero.

Translations

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Further reading

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