cop on
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To stop being silly and start behaving sensibly.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
(Irish English) To become more sensible, mature, or aware of reality; often used as a direct command.
"Cop on, will you — you can't keep spending money you don't have."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
(Irish English, noun use) Common sense or good judgment.
"He hasn't got a bit of cop on — he forgot to book the venue."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
This is distinctly Irish English (Hiberno-English) and is rarely heard outside Ireland. Often used as a direct command ('Cop on!') telling someone to stop being foolish. 'Cop on' is also used as a noun in Irish English — 'Have a bit of cop on' means 'have some common sense.'
Commonly used with
yourself sense maturity
Forms
Base
cop on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cops on
he/she/it
Past simple
coped on
yesterday
Past participle
coped on
have + pp
-ing form
coping on
continuous
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Synonyms
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