cop the needle
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To grow annoyed.
Register: slang
Examples
It must have been the way I said it because he copped the needle and sneered, 'I haven't got to talk to you about fuck-all. Whatever I do is none of your Goddamn business.'
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 the needle” mean?
To grow annoyed.
Is “cop the needle” formal or informal?
cop the needle is generally slang.