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cop onto

C1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

To suddenly understand or notice something.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

(Irish English) To become aware of or realize something, especially something previously hidden or not understood.

"It took me a while to cop onto what she was actually trying to say."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Distinctly Irish English. Equivalent to 'catch on to' or 'cotton on to' in other varieties of English. Commonly used when someone finally understands a trick, a secret, or a situation. Always followed by the thing noticed.

Commonly used with

trick plan secret idea joke scheme

Forms

Base

cop onto

I/you/we/they

3rd person

cops onto

he/she/it

Past simple

coped onto

yesterday

Past participle

coped onto

have + pp

-ing form

coping onto

continuous

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Synonyms

catch on to cotton on to realize figure out twig notice

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