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ripoux

corrupt cop

noun ree-POO Rare

Origin: Verlan (back-slang) inversion of 'pourri' (rotten).

Usage Note

Ripoux is verlan for pourri and refers to a corrupt or crooked police officer. It was popularised by the 1984 French film 'Les Ripoux'. The singular is un ripou, with the plural ripoux formed on the model of chou/choux. It is firmly colloquial and carries a humorous-to-cynical tone.

Examples

"Le film met en scène deux ripoux complices."

Natural Translation

The film features two corrupt cops as accomplices.

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