What does "cop out" mean?

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

Cop out

Common synonyms include: abatement of differences, abstain, abstention, accommodate, accommodation, adjust.

verb, slang

verb, slang ·Common ·High school level

Verb

1
To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner. idiomatic
"Faced with the prospect of cooking for himself, his first thought was to cop out and order a pizza."
2
choose not to do something, as out of fear of failing wordnet
3
To plead guilty and ask for mercy.
4
To blame; to assign blame to; to get into trouble. idiomatic, slang
"His lawyer copped him out on just one felony charge."
5
To remove from a situation or crowd, such as for arrest or punishment. US, dated, idiomatic
"Somebody should have copped him out last night."

Show 3 more definitions

6
To leave a gang.
"I can't believe you copped out on us."
7
To abandon, let down or betray (someone). idiomatic, slang
"She thought I'd copped out on her."
8
To win (someone) over; to get on (someone's) good side. idiomatic, slang, transitive

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

Attested since 1942 as “flee, escape, cop (an) out”.