Cool MatePolice vs We're not scared of coppers
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Police
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
We're not scared of coppers
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: PoliceMost common: Police
| Police | We're not scared of coppers | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈliːs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈliːs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɪə nɒt skɛəd əv ˈkɒpəz//🇺🇸 //wɪr nɑt skɛrd əv ˈkɑpərz// |
| Meaning | The people who keep the law and help everyone stay safe. | We don't feel afraid of police officers. |
| Example | The police arrived quickly to handle the situation. | In our neighborhood, we're not scared of coppers. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | armed, mounted, plain-clothes, call, contact, alert, arrest somebody, detain somebody, catch somebody, captain, chief, commissioner, helping the police with their enquiries, in police custody | scared of coppers, fearless of police, not intimidated by officers, defiant against law enforcement, confident around cops |
| Antonyms | criminal, offender | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'policy', meaning rules or guidelines., Using 'police' as a singular instead of plural., Mixing up the noun 'police' with the verb 'to police'. | Confused with 'copper' as in metal., Misunderstanding the informal tone., Using in formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'police' when talking about law enforcement in general. Avoid in informal contexts where you might say 'cops' instead. Ideal for news, discussions about safety, or legal matters. | This phrase is casual and often used in conversations. It may be seen as disrespectful towards police, so consider the context. |
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Frequently asked questions: Police vs We're not scared of coppers
What's the difference between Police and We're not scared of coppers?
Police: The people who keep the law and help everyone stay safe. We're not scared of coppers: We don't feel afraid of police officers.
Which is more formal: Police and We're not scared of coppers?
Police is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Police and We're not scared of coppers?
Police is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Police: The police arrived quickly to handle the situation. We're not scared of coppers: In our neighborhood, we're not scared of coppers.
Can I use Police and We're not scared of coppers interchangeably?
Not always. Police and We're not scared of coppers 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.