cop on meaning (informal): definition, quotations

cop on

noun

UK /kɒp ɒn/

That eejit has no cop on.
While she is right that some cyclists do cycle in a dangerous manner, pedestrians need to have some "cop on" as well.2008, Joseph Dolan, "Hazards caused by pedestrians" (letter to the editor), Irish Independent, 22 November 2008

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Fixtures' secretary Jimmy Henry refuted the comments. "I wouldn't have got this job if I hadn't some cop on," he said.2011 May 11, “Broadside at Croke Park”, in The Meath Chronicle:
Molloy’s solicitor said that there was a^([sic]) element of naivety here in that his client, who is “quite brilliant” in his studies in physics, has “no cop on” and took a “scientist’s approach” to growing cannabis.2012 March 29, Martina Nee, “Student with no ‘cop on’ fined for using his scientific brilliance for cannabis growing”, in Galway Advertiser:

verb

Ireland, Idiomatic, Informal To stop behaving immaturely; behave, grow up.

You'll get in trouble with the boss if you don't cop on.
Drink, drink and more drink. Ulster Bank, College Green, was filled with sore heads for the entire month of the world cup. I knew it was time to start copping on when my housemate, O'Dea, who was a much harder drinker than I ever was, said to me, 'Jaysus, I was fierce worried about you during the World Cup, you were on the lash every fuckin' night, fallin' home in some state.'2006, Johnny Fallon, Party Time: Growing Up in Politics, Mercier Press, published 2006, →ISBN, page 110:

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After a while, though, we matured and copped on.2011, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Joking Apart: My Autobiography, Transworld Ireland, published 2011, →ISBN, page 124:
The inference was clear. You Irish were all very naughty and it's time you copped on and grew up.2011 October 23, Daniel McConnell, “Tough rehab, yes -- but mind you don't end up killing the patient”, in Irish Independent:
“Cop on, Anne Marie,” her parents said. “Time to be normal now.”2024 March 16, Antonia Cundy, “The Opus Dei diaries”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18:

Ireland, UK, Dialectal, Informal To come to understand; twig, cotton on.