cop
cop
Pronunciation
/kɒp/.
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop, as in "cat"
/ɒ/ - an open-mid back rounded vowel, as in "lot" (in British English) or "cloth" (in some American English dialects)
/p/ - a voiceless bilabial stop, as in "pat"
Word Form Variations
As a Noun (referring to a police officer):
Singular: cop (e.g., "A cop stopped the car.")
Plural: cops (e.g., "The cops arrived quickly.")
As a Verb (meaning to seize, catch, steal, or obtain):
Base form: cop (e.g., "I want to cop a new pair of shoes.")
Third-person singular present tense: cops (e.g., "He cops an attitude when he's tired.")
Present participle: copping (e.g., "She is copping some flak for her decision.")
Past tense: copped (e.g., "They copped the blame for the mistake.")
Past participle: copped (e.g., "He had copped a lot of attention.")
Additional (less common or slang) noun meanings and forms:
Singular (informal/British slang for an arrest): cop (e.g., "That's a fair cop.")
Singular (a conical roll of thread): cop (e.g., "a cop of yarn")
Plural (for the above): cops
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. Definition: An informal, often slang term for a police officer; an individual entrusted with enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and investigating crimes.
Synonyms: officer, police officer, law enforcement agent, patrolman/patrolwoman (dated), peace officer, constable (British English), Bobby (British slang).
Antonyms: criminal, lawbreaker, perpetrator.
2. Definition: An instance of an arrest or apprehension by law enforcement; the act of being caught or taken into custody.
Synonyms: arrest, bust (informal), capture, apprehension, detention.
Antonyms: release, acquittal, escape, evasion.
3. Definition: (Textile Industry, dated) A conical, cross-wound package of yarn or thread, typically wound directly from a spinning frame.
Synonyms: bobbin, spool, cone (of yarn).
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to a specific form).
Verb
1. Definition: To acquire, obtain, or get something, often implying a quick, opportunistic, or slightly illicit manner, or something desirable.
Synonyms: get, acquire, obtain, snag (informal), grab (informal), score (slang).
Antonyms: give, relinquish, surrender, forfeit.
2. Definition: To steal or pilfer something; to take something without permission.
Synonyms: steal, pilfer, swipe (informal), pinch (informal), lift (informal), snatch.
Antonyms: return, restore, give back, buy, pay for.
3. Definition: (Slang) To receive or experience something undesirable, often blame, punishment, or criticism. Often used in phrases like "cop the blame" or "cop a beating."
Synonyms: receive, suffer, incur, endure, take (as in "take the blame").
Antonyms: avoid, evade, escape, shirk, deflect.
4. Definition: (Often followed by "out") To avoid or withdraw from a commitment, responsibility, or difficult situation; to back out.
Synonyms: avoid, shirk, evade, escape, back out (of), retreat, give up.
Antonyms: face, confront, commit, persist, follow through.
5. Definition: (Rare, chiefly British English slang) To see or observe something; to catch sight of.
Synonyms: see, spot, notice, observe, glimpse, behold.
Antonyms: miss, overlook, ignore.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The street was quiet, save for the distant wail of a siren. Detective Miles, a seasoned cop, knew that sound intimately." (Fictional crime novel, author's internal narration)
"He had to cop to the fact that he'd forgotten her birthday, a mistake he would surely pay for." (From a contemporary romance novel, character's internal thought)
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Local cops are investigating a string of burglaries that have plagued the Nairobi estate for weeks." (Report from The Standard)
"The activist argued that excessive force by a cop during the protest warranted a full internal review." (The Daily Nation online article)
"While some praise the new policy, others feel the government is simply trying to cop out of its responsibility to the most vulnerable." (Op-ed from an online news magazine)
"Aspiring fashionistas flocked to the pop-up shop, hoping to cop the limited-edition sneakers before they sold out." (Online lifestyle blog)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "You got a problem with me, cop?" (Heard in a scene from a Hollywood action movie, where a criminal confronts a police officer)
TV Show Dialogue: "Looks like he tried to cop some cash from the register, but the alarm went off." (Line from a police procedural drama)
Song Lyrics: "I ain't no snitch, but I saw the cop car roll by." (From a popular hip-hop song)
Video Game Dialogue: "Alright, you dirty cop! You're going down!" (Dialogue from a character in a first-person shooter game addressing an antagonist)
Podcast Discussion: "And then, he just tried to cop a plea, hoping for a lighter sentence, but the judge wasn't having it." (Discussion on a true-crime podcast about a defendant's legal strategy)
General Public Discourse:
"My brother's trying to cop a new PlayStation, but they're so expensive right now." (Heard in casual conversation among friends in Nairobi)
"That was a pretty good cop by the midfielder; he stole the ball cleanly." (Comment made by a football fan watching a match)
"I heard he got a cop for speeding on Mombasa Road last night." (Informal conversation about someone receiving a traffic ticket)
"Don't cop an attitude with me, young man!" (A parent scolding a child)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cop
"The cop is not there to create disorder; the cop is there to preserve disorder." (Richard J. Daley, often misattributed, but encapsulates a prevalent public perception of police power in certain contexts.)
"What we need are more people who specialize in the impossible." (The full quote, sometimes attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, continues in some variations with "a cop who can do it all.")
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." (Lord Acton - while not directly using "cop," this quote is often applied to discussions about police authority and potential abuses, making it metaphorically relevant to the 'cop' as an enforcer of power.)
"They say a cop is only as good as his last arrest." (Common saying in police dramas and informal discourse, reflecting the high-stakes nature of police work.)
"A good cop is a good human being." (A frequent sentiment expressed by community leaders and police chiefs emphasizing the importance of character in law enforcement.)
"You want to be a cop? You gotta have heart, kid. And eyes in the back of your head." (A stereotypical line from many crime films or TV shows, reflecting the toughness and awareness required.)
"I didn't cop to anything because I didn't do anything." (A common phrase in legal dramas or interviews with accused individuals, denying guilt.)
"It's a tough job being a cop, but someone's gotta do it." (A frequently heard statement in public discourse, acknowledging the challenges faced by police.)
"He tried to cop a plea, but the prosecution wouldn't budge." (A common description of legal strategy in news reports and courtroom dramas.)
"The best way to cop a bargain is to know when to walk away." (A piece of common advice related to negotiation or shopping, using "cop" in the sense of obtaining.)
Etymology
The word "cop" has a fascinating journey through history, with its different meanings developing at various times.
The most commonly accepted origin for the verb "to cop" (meaning to seize, catch, or grab) comes from an older Northern British dialect. Its roots might go back to the French word "caper," meaning "to take," which itself comes from the Latin word "capere" meaning "to grasp." This sense of "cop" as "to seize or catch" was first recorded in writing around 1704.
Now, how did "cop" come to mean a police officer? This meaning developed from the verb. Since police officers "catch" or "arrest" people, the term "copper" (meaning "one who cops" or "one who catches") began to be used as slang for a police officer around 1846.
This word "copper" then got shortened to just "cop," with the first documented use of "cop" to mean a police officer appearing around 1859.
So, in simple terms:
Original Meaning (Verb): "To cop" meant "to seize, catch, or grab." This idea came from older French and Latin words. This use appeared around the early 1700s.
Evolution to Police Officer (Noun): Because police officers "catch" criminals, they were called "coppers" (those who catch) in the mid-1800s. This "copper" then got shortened to "cop" to refer to a police officer, starting around 1859.
It's interesting to note that for a long time, "cop" was considered informal and even a bit rude when referring to a police officer. It was often used by criminals or those who didn't have much respect for the police. However, over time, it became much more widely accepted and is now used even by police officers themselves in many parts of the world.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cop
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cop":
Cop a feel: (Informal, often vulgar) To touch someone sexually, usually unwantedly or quickly.
Cop a squat: (Informal) To sit down.
Cop a plea: To agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Cop out: To avoid or shirk a responsibility, commitment, or difficult situation.
Cop an attitude: To behave in a disrespectful or defiant manner.
Cop the blame/flak/heat: To receive or be subjected to criticism, responsibility, or punishment for something.
A fair cop: (British English, informal) A deserved arrest or acknowledgment of being caught doing something wrong.
The whole cop shop: (Informal, slightly dated) The entire police station or police force.
Copper's nark: (British English, informal, dated) An informant for the police. (Uses the root "copper").
To nab a suspect: (Uses a synonym for "cop" as in "to seize") To catch or arrest a suspect.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cop from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
