cop

C1 · Advanced Slang

v. to get, buy, or find something, especially something that is hard to find.

v. to obtain or purchase an item; frequently used in the context of limited-edition goods or illicit substances.

“He managed to cop a pair of the new sneakers before they sold out online.”

“Collectors queued for hours outside the boutique, hoping to cop the limited-edition vinyl release before stocks were exhausted.”

C1 · Advanced British English · Informal

v. to receive or take something unpleasant, like blame or a punishment.

v. to receive or be forced to shoulder something, typically blame, criticism, or a legal penalty.

“The manager had to cop the blame when the project failed to meet its deadline.”

“The junior clerk was left to cop the flak for the accounting error, despite having followed his supervisor's explicit instructions.”

C1 · Advanced American English · Informal

v. to admit that you did something wrong or committed a crime.

v. to confess or admit to a wrongdoing; often used in the phrase 'cop to'.

“He finally decided to cop to the mistake instead of letting his friend take the fall.”

“After hours of questioning, the suspect finally copped to his involvement in the robbery, leading the detectives to the hidden evidence.”