cop-out
cop-out — 名詞
1. An excuse or reason that allows a person to avoid a responsibility or obligation
藉口；推託
逃避責任的藉口
An excuse or reason that allows a person to avoid a responsibility or obligation they should face, especially when the excuse seems weak or dishonest.
The meeting was off, Tuan said — but that was just a cop-out.
會議取消了，Tuan 說——但那只是個藉口。
used as a noun complement after 'just a'
Calling yourself too old for new software is a cop-out — you will not try.
說自己太老學不了新軟體只是個藉口——你根本不想嘗試而已。
A claim about no funding is a cop-out for a lack of real commitment.
聲稱沒有經費只是缺乏真正承諾的推託之詞。
Yara told her boss she quit to be with family, but that was a cop-out.
Yara 告訴老闆她辭職是為了多陪家人，但那只是個藉口。
Blaming the traffic for being late every day becomes a tired cop-out after a while.
每次遲到都怪交通堵塞，幾次之後就成了個老套的藉口。
- commitment
a cop-out is the opposite of keeping a commitment
文法句型
be a cop-out
just a cop-out
用法筆記
Often used with 'just a' or 'nothing but a' to dismiss an excuse as weak or dishonest. Common in informal criticism of someone's behaviour.
常見錯誤
cop-out — 動詞
- cop-outpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cop-outs3rd person singular
- cop-outing-ing form
- cop-outedpast simple
1. To decide not to do something you had agreed to do, especially because it sudden
退縮；逃避
因困難或害怕而退出
To decide not to do something you had agreed to do, especially because it suddenly seems difficult, unpleasant, or frightening.
We promised to help with the festival, but Mateo copped out last minute.
我們本來答應要幫忙籌辦活動，但 Mateo 在最後一刻退縮了。
cop out + at the last minute (timing)
The team copped out of the race when they saw the other players were stronger.
這支隊伍看到對手實力堅強之後，就退出了比賽。
cop out + of + noun phrase (event/commitment)
Hiro copped out of organizing the party, saying he had too much homework.
Hiro 藉口功課太多，推掉了籌辦派對的責任。
Lisa told her landlord she would fix the leak, but then she copped out.
Lisa 跟房東說她會修理漏水，結果卻食言了。
You cannot cop out now — we are counting on you to give the speech.
你現在不能退縮——我們都指望你上台演講。
- follow through
complete what you promised to do
文法句型
cop out + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Intransitive; the commitment being avoided is introduced by 'of' ('cop out of a promise'). Cannot take a direct object. Most often used for one-off decisions to abandon a plan.
常見錯誤
2. To keep avoiding the things you are supposed to do, especially duties or promise
逃避；卸責
經常逃避責任或義務
To keep avoiding the things you are supposed to do, especially duties or promises, because you lack the courage or effort to deal with them.
Eshe keeps copping out on her team duties, and everyone is getting frustrated.
Eshe 一直在逃避團隊責任，大家都感到很挫折。
cop out + on + [responsibility/obligation]
Keisha kept copping out on her volunteer shifts until the coordinator asked her to step down.
Keisha 一直逃避當志工的班次，最後負責人只好請她退出。
habitual: kept copping out on + [responsibility]
Wei never finishes what he starts — he always cops out when things get hard.
Wei 從來沒把事情做完過——遇到困難他就逃避。
Instead of copping out on your promises, try to see them through.
與其逃避承諾，不如試著履行到底。
The mayor was accused of copping out on a promise to improve public transport.
那位市長被批評在改善大眾運輸的承諾上卸責。
- shirk
more formal, similar meaning
- duck out of
similar register, slightly less critical
文法句型
cop out + on + noun phrase
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense describes a repeated pattern of avoidance rather than a single decision. The obligation being avoided is introduced by 'on' ('cop out on responsibilities'). Often used in continuous tenses ('keeps copping out').