COP OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cop out mean? 

• COP OUT (verb)
  The verb COP OUT has 1 sense:

1. choose not to do something, as out of fear of failing

  Familiarity information: COP OUT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COP OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Choose not to do something, as out of fear of failing

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

cop out; opt out

Context example:

She copped out when she was supposed to get into the hang glider

Hypernyms (to "cop out" is one way to...):

choose; opt; prefer (select as an alternative over another)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

copout (a failure to face some difficulty squarely)