cop-outとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Deverbal from cop out.

発音

名詞

cop-out (plural cop-outs)

1. (slang) Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.

   His disappearance on the day of the audition was just a cop-out.

   • 2025 July 2, Catherine Shoard, quoting James Cameron, “James Cameron calls Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer a ‘moral cop-out’”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     “It’s interesting what he stayed away from,” said Cameron. “Look, I love the film-making, but I did feel that it was a bit of a moral cop-out.”

2. (slang) An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.

   It was a cop-out to say he couldn't sign the petition because he sprained his wrist.

3. (slang) A person who cops out.

   He's always a cop-out when there's hard work to be done.

   • 1989 August 12, Kate Rushin, “Is Better Than Hollywood Good Enough?”, in Gay Community News, volume 17, number 5, page 8:

     Even when they are talking one-on-one, we aren't allowed to see behind the posturing and emblematic language. The major exception to this is Da Mayor […] who is both scorned and respected, seen as both a cop-out and a hero.

Further reading

• “cop-out”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “cop-out”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• "cop-out" in the Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus (Wordsmyth, 2002)

発音

動詞

cop out (third-person singular simple present cops out, present participle copping out, simple past and past participle copped out)

1. (idiomatic) To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.

   Synonyms: goof off, weasel out; see also Thesaurus:shirk

   Faced with the prospect of cooking for himself, his first thought was to cop out and order a pizza.

   • 2000, Bill Oddie, Gripping Yarns, page 67:

     There was no bird fair at Druridge so I didn't have to feel guilty about copping out of it.

2. To plead guilty and ask for mercy.
3. (idiomatic, slang) To blame; to assign blame to; to get into trouble.

   His lawyer copped him out on just one felony charge.

4. (idiomatic, dated, US) To remove from a situation or crowd, such as for arrest or punishment.

   Somebody should have copped him out last night.

5. To leave a gang.

   I can't believe you copped out on us.

6. (idiomatic, slang) To abandon, let down or betray (someone).

   Synonyms: double-cross, sell out, stab in the back; see also Thesaurus:betray

   She thought I'd copped out on her.

7. (idiomatic, slang, transitive) To win (someone) over; to get on (someone's) good side.

派生語

参照

名詞

copout (plural copouts)

1. Alternative spelling of cop-out.