cop
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.an informal word for a police officer.
n.an informal term for a police officer or, less commonly, a prison guard.
Simple“The driver slowed down as soon as he saw a cop parked by the side of the road.”
In context“The veteran cop had patrolled these streets for twenty years and knew every shopkeeper by name.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“He managed to cop a pair of the new sneakers before they sold out online.”
In context“Collectors queued for hours outside the boutique, hoping to cop the limited-edition vinyl release before stocks were exhausted.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The manager had to cop the blame when the project failed to meet its deadline.”
In context“The junior clerk was left to cop the flak for the accounting error, despite having followed his supervisor's explicit instructions.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
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'.
Simple“He finally decided to cop to the mistake instead of letting his friend take the fall.”
In context“After hours of questioning, the suspect finally copped to his involvement in the robbery, leading the detectives to the hidden evidence.”
“The victim was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, cops said.”
“Cops in Surrey, B.C., are even informing the public whether the baddies are Canadian citizens.”