cop out
/ˌkɑp ˈaʊt/
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Also a noun
- Informal
Meaning
To avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant, often by making an excuse.
He promised to help us paint the kitchen, but he copped out at the last minute.
How it's used
This means “avoid doing something, often with an excuse”
- cop out of the debate
Say “cop out of it.” Not “cop it out.”
She tried to cop out of the debate by claiming she lost her voice.
Collocations
- cop out of a commitment
- cop out of doing chores
Synonyms
- back out
- chicken out
- bail
- renege
- wimp out
Antonyms
Meaning
A weak excuse, or an easy way to avoid doing something difficult or unpleasant.
Saying you were too busy to call is a total cop-out.
Was the ending of the movie a clever twist or just a cop-out?
Synonyms
- excuse
- evasion