cops and robbers

UK/kɒps ˈænd ˈɹɒb.ə(ɹ)s/US/kɑps ˈɛnd ˈɹɑ.bɚs/

noun

A game played by schoolchildren in which the "robbers" have to steal "gold" and return it to their "base" without being caught by the "cops" and taken to "jail" (from which they can be freed by other "robbers").

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Meanings

nouncops and robbers (uncountable)
  1. uncountableplayground gamesA game played by schoolchildren in which the "robbers" have to steal "gold" and return it to their "base" without being caught by the "cops" and taken to "jail" (from which they can be freed by other "robbers").

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 警察抓小媮 /警察抓小偷
  • 警察抓小媮 /警察抓小偷 (jǐngchá zhuā xiǎotōu)schoolchildren's game
German Räuber und Gendarm
  • Räuber und Gendarmschoolchildren's game
Hebrew שׁוֹטְרִים וְגַנָּבִים
  • שׁוֹטְרִים וְגַנָּבִים (shotrím uganavím)schoolchildren's game
Portuguese polícia e ladrão
  • polícia e ladrãoschoolchildren's game
Cite this entry
APA

cops and robbers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cops%20and%20robbers

MLA

“cops and robbers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cops%20and%20robbers. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cops and robbers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cops%20and%20robbers.

Source: cops and robbers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.