Cop

[bartholomew]

"Fair cop"

When do you use this exprexxion. Can you produce some at least one good example of how touse it?

Thanks

[Quizmonster]

'Cop' is an old English word meaning 'to catch'. It comes from the French verb 'caper' and, even further back, from the Latin one 'capere'. That's what a policeman's job is...to catch baddies. Hence policemen are called 'cops' or 'coppers'.

Lots of people say it comes from the copper buttons they supposedly had on their uniforms long ago and others say it is an acronym for 'Constable on Patrol', but these ideas are just myths.

The word 'cop' is, as explained above, also used to mean the process of catching as well as a name for the catcher. A 'fair cop' is a situation in which the criminal realises he has been caught fair and square and that he has no complaint against the policeman. He may have been caught red-handed with the incriminating evidence in his pocket, as it were, so he has no possible excuse. He might then say: "It's a fair cop, Sergeant." Similarly, a schoolboy caught with the blackboard-duster in his pocket might say: "It's a fair cop, Miss" to the teacher who has been looking for it and now found it right there.

[Xollob]

Have a look at Michael Quinion's excellent article in World Wide Words.

I remember watching an episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus with German subtitles. The thief - with his default stripes and bulging swag bag - had just been collared by the local bobby. The translator had obviously missed the point and rendered the phrase as something like "What a decent policeman".

[airbolt]

Only ever heard in Ealing Films and spoofed by Harry Enfield as Mr Cholmondley-Warner.

There was an amusing advert for the Broadcast Standards Authority ( i think ) a few years ago . In a " Sweeney " style scenario a bunch of plain clothes cops arrest a Gang of Bank robbers . Instead of the expected Profanities the Robbers say things like " Its a Fair Cop " and " Ouch , Mr Policeman , those Handcuffs really hurt!"