• acockworkorange@mander.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    cope /kōp/

    intransitive verb

    1. To contend or strive, especially on even terms or with success.

      “coping with child-rearing and a full-time job.”

    2. To contend with difficulties and act to overcome them.

    3. To form a cope or arch; to bend or arch; to bow.


    As a foreigner it’s really jarring seeing this verb adopting a new meaning of “failing to cope”. I’ve seen it many times, it’s definitely not you and not new, but it does make the English language just a tad more inaccessible.

    • it’s mostly just internet lingo. English is not my native language either and I sometimes have the opposite problem: I know/use the internet definition/meaning but not the “official” one lol

      Urban Dictionary is your friend in such cases, that’s where I usually go for stuff like this

      • Norah - She/They@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        5 months ago

        it’s mostly just internet lingo.

        Spend more time around people under 25, while they’re around other people who are also under that age. I hear it a lot.

        Edit: To be clear, I’m not even under 25. Just spend a lot of time with people who are. Makes you feel old when younger folks ‘code-switch’ and use different language choices with you…

        • алсааас [she/they]@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          edit-2
          5 months ago

          one could call that an “oof moment” lol

          but tbh I will probably feel the same when I have to talk with the “skibbidy toilet” generation (aka gen alpha) in the future
          (I only recently found out what that even is 💀)

      • AItoothbrush@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        5 months ago

        Im kinda an english native depending on definition but for a very long time i mainly used it on the internet so sometimes i use too many contractions and slang with people who are not as good with it which can lead to confusion.