# bop the bishop

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bop-the-bishop
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To masturbate (male).

## Examples

- He went to his room to bop the bishop.
- After a long and stressful day, he decided to bop the bishop before finally falling asleep.
- The teenager retreated into the privacy of his bedroom, choosing to bop the bishop rather than join the family for dinner.

## Origin

The term is of uncertain origin, recorded by lexicographers as a variation of the idiom bash the bishop. Popular etymology suggests the phrase relies upon a visual comparison between the head of a penis and the shape of a bishop's mitre, though the source remains unproven. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.