[Ads-l] Word: cope noun - slang for comfortable self-deception

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Wiktionary has an entry for "cope" (noun) that includes the following
slang sense together with a 2019 citation.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cope

[Begin Wiktionary excerpt]
cope noun
(slang) A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to
endure a hopeless situation.
[End Wiktionary excerpt]

Here is October 2016 citation.

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https://x.com/Luhjayynix/status/785528926206582784
August 12th @Luhjayynix
how crazy is this whole "UF is scared of LSU" Narrative. Is it just a
cope for rival fans to take shots at UF ? Seems like it
1:14 PM, Oct 10, 2016
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The phrase "cope out" was circulating a bit earlier, perhaps derived
from "cop out".

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https://x.com/p_ett28/status/538376640439799810?s=20
Christian @p_ett28
It's just a cope out, cause you don't understand something strange.
It's a just really a perspective term
11:59 AM, Nov 28, 2014
[End xtwitter information]

Garson

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org