good cop bad cop

noun

A psychological tactic used for interrogation, involving one police officer playing the role of intimidating adversary, and another that of friend with whom the subject is encouraged to bond.

Similar
Mutt and Jeff
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Meanings

noungood cop bad cop (uncountable)

alternative good cop, bad cop · alternative Good Cop, Bad Cop · alternative good-cop, bad-cop · alternative good cop/bad cop · alternative Good Cop/Bad Cop · alternative good-cop/bad-cop · alternative good cop-bad cop · alternative good cop–bad cop · alternative good-cop-bad-cop · alternative good-cop bad-cop

  1. uncountableA psychological tactic used for interrogation, involving one police officer playing the role of intimidating adversary, and another that of friend with whom the subject is encouraged to bond.

    Synonyms: Mutt and Jeff

  2. uncountableAn analogous negotiation or interrogation tactic.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA psychological tactic used for interrogation, involving one police officer playing the role of intimidating adversary, and another that of friend with whom the subject is encouraged to bond.

Similar
Mutt and Jeff
Also see
mutt and jeff

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 做好做醜 /做好做丑
  • 做好做醜 /做好做丑 (zou⁶ hou² zou⁶ cau²)psychological tactic
Chinese Mandarin 一個唱紅臉，一個唱白臉, 一个唱红脸，一个唱白脸
  • 一個唱紅臉，一個唱白臉psychological tactic
  • 一个唱红脸，一个唱白脸psychological tactic
  • 红脸白脸psychological tactic
Finnish hyvä poliisi, paha poliisi
  • hyvä poliisi, paha poliisipsychological tactic
French méchant flic, gentil flic, bon flic, mauvais flic
  • méchant flic, gentil flicpsychological tactic
  • bon flic, mauvais flicpsychological tactic
German guter Bulle, böser Bulle
  • guter Bulle, böser Bullepsychological tactic
Greek καλός και κακός αστυφύλακας
  • καλός και κακός αστυφύλακας (kalós kai kakós astyfýlakas)psychological tactic
Polish dobry i zły glina, dobry i zły policjant
  • dobry i zły glinapsychological tactic
  • dobry i zły policjantpsychological tactic
Spanish poli bueno poli malo
  • poli bueno poli malopsychological tactic
Cite this entry
APA

good cop bad cop. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20cop%20bad%20cop

MLA

“good cop bad cop.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20cop%20bad%20cop. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “good cop bad cop,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/good%20cop%20bad%20cop.

Source: good cop bad cop on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.