This aint much cop

[Zhukov]

This was a line in a TV Drama,set in WW1.It is still used widely today!

What is "much cop",or "cop"?

[Mamyalynne]

: "Not much cop" - does the origin come from not a good cop (ie police officer) or not much copulation coming from obviously a sexual term?

Neither. 'Cop' is a slang term meaning catch or acquisition. 'Not much cop' applies to things that aren't much of a prize. That meaning of cop may also be the derivation of the slang term for police officer.

[MarkRae]

Lynne is essentially right but, more specifically, to "cop" something is to take it, especially when you shouldn't, as in "cop a feel".

So "not much cop" is something you've taken when you really shouldn't but which has turned out to be a disappointment...

[Zhukov]

Thank you mamyalynne.So you would guess it being a snappy word,between thieves,like,loot and swag!

[Mamyalynne]

I am copping on to the fact that it is quite nice to be essentially right. Mind you it is years since I copped off.

[Zhukov]

Originating from^

[MarkRae]

"They brought the loot in and put it on the table, and while they were drinking I copped the lot and scarpered..."

[Zhukov]

Thank you MarkRae

[Quizmonster]

"We are going to a place called Spion Kop and I don't think it will be much of a 'kop' for our chaps."
As regards origin, the above is taken from a letter written during the Boer War (1902) and it is the earliest recorded version of the phrase 'much cop', according to the OED. By putting inverted commas around kop, the writer was obviously making a point about the cop/kop pun, the first meaning a gain/acquisition and the second meaning a hill.

[Zhukov]

Thanks,Quizmonster..the hills themselves were accorded a snappy nickname..in Afrikaans..kop means head..so a hill that looked like it had a "human head"..kopjie..small hill with head!