Topic: POLICE
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| Date: | 1800-1900 |
| Origin: | copper 'police officer' (19-21 centuries), from COP2 'to arrest' (19-20 centuries) |
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cop1 S3
[countable]
[countable]1 informalSCP a police officer : the local cop a narcotics cop He pulled out his badge and said he was a cop.
the local copa narcotics copHe pulled out his badge and said he was a cop.2 to not be very good : They say he's not much cop as a coach.
not be much cop
British English informalThey say he's not much cop as a coach.3 used humorously when someone has discovered that you have done something wrong and you want to admit it
it's a fair cop
British English spokenWORD FOCUS: police WORD FOCUS: police
people in the police force: police officer, policeman, policewoman, detective, cop informal
the building where the police work: police station
what the police do: investigate crimes, find/collect evidence, arrest people who they think are guilty of a crime, question/interrogate people about crimes, hold/detain people in custody, charge people with crimes, release people if they are innocent
➔ See also police
WORD FOCUS: police people in the police force: police officer, policeman, policewoman, detective, cop informal
the building where the police work: police station
what the police do: investigate crimes, find/collect evidence, arrest people who they think are guilty of a crime, question/interrogate people about crimes, hold/detain people in custody, charge people with crimes, release people if they are innocent
➔ See also police
