Cool MateCop vs There's a new copper coming
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Cop
InformalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun
There's a new copper coming
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Cop
| Cop | There's a new copper coming | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kɒp/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɑːp/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeəz ə njuː ˈkɒpə kʌmɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ðɛrz ə nu ˈkɑpər ˈkʌmɪŋ// |
| Meaning | A police officer. | A new police officer is starting. |
| Example | Somebody call the cops! | There's a new copper coming to our neighborhood next week. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | cop car, cop chase, cop drama, dirty cop, cop on the beat | new copper, incoming copper, local copper, copper on duty, copper arrives |
| Antonyms | civilian | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'cop out', which means to avoid responsibility., Using 'cop' to refer to security guards or other types of law enforcement incorrectly., Mispronouncing as 'cape' instead of 'cʌp'. | Confused with 'copper' as in metal instead of slang for police., Using it in a formal setting instead of casual conversation., Not recognizing it as informal slang within certain regions. |
| Usage notes | Usually used informally to refer to police. It can be derogatory in some contexts. Generally acceptable in casual conversations but avoid in formal discussions. | Used informally, often in conversations about law enforcement or neighborhood safety. Not appropriate in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Cop vs There's a new copper coming
What's the difference between Cop and There's a new copper coming?
Cop: A police officer. There's a new copper coming: A new police officer is starting.
Which is more common: Cop and There's a new copper coming?
Cop is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Cop: Somebody call the cops! There's a new copper coming: There's a new copper coming to our neighborhood next week.
Can I use Cop and There's a new copper coming interchangeably?
Not always. Cop and There's a new copper coming are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.