In English, a coup de grace is a strong finishing stroke or a decisive way of ending something.The loan phrase from French is useful in all sorts of contexts.
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The phrase is French for "blow of mercy." You automatically hit and score a critical hit. Borrowed directly from French and first appearing in English at the end of the 17th century, "coup de grâce" (literally, a "stroke of grace" or "blow of mercy") originally referred to a mercy killing, or the act of putting to death a person or animal who was severely injured and unlikely to recover. Originally referring to a merciful stroke putting a fatally wounded person out of misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after facing a firing squad. For instance, it’s often used in reference to competitive sports to describe a move or a score that effectively ends the match, and it’s often used in reference to works of art, describing a novel touch that gives a work a strong finish. a hit or shot that finally kills a person or an animal, especially to stop them from suffering synonym death blow; See coup de grâce in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary.
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{{#verifyErrors}} Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Pronunciation of coup de grâce with 3 audio pronunciations, 2 synonyms, 1 meaning, 9 translations, 8 sentences and more for coup de grâce. How to use coup de grâce in a sentence. A coup de grâce (/ ˌ k uː d ə ˈ ɡ r ɑː s / ; French [ku də ɡʁɑs] for "blow of mercy") is a death blow to end the suffering of a severely wounded person or animal. 118 likes. A coup de grâce is the final, decisive blow or strike—the deathblow or the knockout punch. How to say coup de grâce. Other "coup" terms that have made the jump from French to English include "coup de main," for a sudden, forceful attack, and "coup d'état" for a violent overthrow of a government usually by a small group. The act of firing an employee might be called the Had a nightmare I was at a guy’s place but I discovered he was a rich killer trying to make it serial and I had to fight him. The Prime Minister's deal is heading for another big defeat today, and it'll be Labour MPs that will deliver the coup de grace.And the coup de grace of my academic career was the supermegasonic senioritis of 2020.They were, however, completely powerless, and a double-barrelled gun gave each the "coup-de-grace" by a ball in the forehead.In the hands of a master of the art it becomes an incisive weapon, like the blade with which the matador gives his coup-de-grace.We may have to administer the "coup-de-grace" with our hand-bayonets.You cannot be killed accidentally; Odal must perform the coup-de-grace himself.But when 112he wished to give the coup-de-grace, in vain he sought the knight, he neither saw nor heard.All Of These Words Are Offensive (But Only Sometimes)“Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What Do These Terms Mean?“Unalienable” vs. “Inalienable”: Is There A Difference?The final blow: “He had been getting deeper and deeper in debt; the fates delivered the coup de grâce when he died.” The Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference?“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every TimeIt’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.Dictionary.com Unabridged
How to pronounce coup de grâce. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
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