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."
inseparable
cop on
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
Irish English informal: to become sensible, mature, or aware; to start behaving responsibly.
In plain English
To stop being silly and start behaving sensibly.
What does "cop on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
inseparable
Usage tip
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.'
Words that pair with "cop on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
yourself sense maturity
How to conjugate "cop on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "cop on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "cop on"
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