cop a plea
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To plead guilty to a lesser criminal charge than one had been charged with.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
But blow wise to this, buddy, blow wise to this: Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom's. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own. Never let nobody talk you into shaking another man's jolt. And never you cop another man's plea. I've tried 'em
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cop a plea” mean?
To plead guilty to a lesser criminal charge than one had been charged with.
Is “cop a plea” formal or informal?
cop a plea is generally slang.