cops out

Verb

cop out (third-person singular simple present cops out, present participle copping out, simple past and past participle copped out)

1. (idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
   • Faced with the prospect of cooking for himself, his first thought was to cop out and order a pizza.

   Synonyms:

   goof off, weasel out, blow off, dog, doss, duck, flinch, goldbrick, lollygag, malinger

2. To plead guilty and ask for mercy.
3. (idiomatic, slang) To blame; to assign blame to; to get into trouble.
   • His lawyer copped him out on just one felony charge.
4. (US, dated, idiomatic) To remove from a situation or crowd, such as for arrest or punishment.
   • Somebody should have copped him out last night.
5. To leave a gang.
   • I can't believe you copped out on us.
6. (idiomatic, slang) To abandon, let down or betray (someone).
   • She thought I'd copped out on her.

   Synonyms:

   double-cross, sell out, stab in the back, assfuck, betray, burn, cross out, cross up, do someone dirty, do the dirty on

See all 7 meanings of cop out