Definition

1. Noun:

   • Police officer: An informal, often uncomplimentary term for a policeman or policewoman.
   • A capture or arrest: The act of catching or apprehending someone.

2. Verb:

   • To arrest or take into custody: To capture or apprehend someone, typically by the police.
   • To steal or take something without permission: To snatch or take something, often quickly or sneakily.
   • To receive or get something (often negative): To incur or be subjected to something, like punishment or blame.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The cop directed traffic at the busy intersection.
  • It was a fair cop; he was caught with the stolen goods.

• Verb:

  • The security guard copped the shoplifter before he could leave the store.
  • Someone copped my pen from my desk.
  • If you break the rules, you'll cop a fine.

Advanced Usage

• "to cop an attitude": to display a rude or defiant manner.

  • He copped an attitude when the teacher asked him to sit down.

• "to cop a plea": to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a more serious one.

  • The defendant decided to cop a plea to avoid a lengthy trial.

• "to cop out": to avoid responsibility or commitment; to back out.

  • He promised to help but copped out at the last minute.

Variants and Related Words

• Copper (n): An older slang term for a police officer, from which "cop" is derived.
• Cop shop (n, informal): A police station.

Synonyms

• Noun (Officer): Police officer, officer, lawman, constable (formal), policeman.
• Verb (Arrest): Apprehend, nab, arrest, seize, collar.
• Verb (Steal): Snatch, pilfer, swipe, filch, take.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cop off (with someone) (informal, chiefly UK): To successfully start a romantic or sexual encounter with someone.

  • He copped off with someone at the party.

• Cop to (something) (informal): To admit or confess to something.

  • He finally copped to breaking the window.

Related Idioms

• "It's a fair cop": An admission that one has been caught fairly or justly.

  • When the evidence was presented, he shrugged and said, "It's a fair cop."

• "Cop it sweet" (Australian/NZ informal): To accept something, especially bad news or punishment, without complaint.

  • He knew he was wrong and decided to cop it sweet.

• "Not much cop" (British informal): Not very good or impressive.

  • The movie wasn't much cop, so we left early.

Noun

1. uncomplimentary terms for a policeman

Verb

1. take into custody
   • the police nabbed the suspected criminals
2. take by theft
   • Someone snitched my wallet!