cop a plea

English[edit]

cop a plea (third-person singular simple present cops a plea, present participle copping a plea, simple past and past participle copped a plea)

(slang, law) To plead guilty to a lesser criminal charge than one had been charged with.
- 1958, Nelson Algren, A Walk on the Wild Side, page 312:
  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 all and I know. They don't work.