How Do You Spell COP A PLEA?

Pronunciation: [kˈɒp ɐ plˈiː] (IPA)

The phrase "cop a plea" is often used colloquially to mean pleading guilty to a lesser charge in a criminal case. The spelling of "cop" in this instance represents the pronunciation of the verb meaning "to obtain or gain" as /kɒp/ in many regional dialects of English. The word "plea" is spelled phonetically in accordance with its pronunciation as /pliː/. The phrase, therefore, is spelled using the standard English alphabet as "cop a plea", but its phonetic transcription would be /kɒp ə pliː/.

COP A PLEA Meaning and Definition

1. The phrase "cop a plea" is an idiomatic expression commonly used in the legal field, predominantly in North American regions. This phrase refers to the act of negotiating or entering into a plea bargain in a criminal case.

   To "cop a plea" means that a defendant in a criminal case, typically in cooperation with their defense attorney, agrees to plead guilty to a lesser offense or accept a reduced punishment in exchange for various potential benefits. These benefits might include a shorter prison sentence, the dismissal of certain charges, or even a reduction in the severity of the conviction. By "copping a plea," defendants often aim to minimize the potential consequences of a trial or secure some advantages by reaching an agreement with the prosecution.

   This phrase derived from the slang word "cop" which can be traced back to the early 1900s, wherein it meant "to obtain" or "to acquire." In this context, "cop" refers to the defendant acquiring or obtaining a more favorable outcome through negotiation. The word "plea" represents the formal response of a defendant to the charges brought against them in a criminal case. Therefore, "cop a plea" amalgamates these meanings to convey the act of seeking beneficial terms through negotiations by accepting a guilty plea.

   "Cop a plea" can also be used more broadly outside of legal contexts to describe someone's attempt to evade or minimize negative consequences by making strategic compromises or seeking more lenient treatment in various situations.

Common Misspellings for COP A PLEA

• copp plea
• xop a plea
• vop a plea
• fop a plea
• dop a plea
• cip a plea
• ckp a plea
• clp a plea
• cpp a plea
• c0p a plea
• c9p a plea
• coo a plea
• col a plea
• co- a plea
• co0 a plea
• cop z plea
• cop s plea
• cop w plea
• cop q plea
• cop a olea

Idioms with the word COP A PLEA

• cop a plea To cop a plea means to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid a more serious charge or punishment.

Similar spelling words for COP A PLEA

• couple,
• compel,
• capable.