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coup de grâce
[koo duh grahs]
noun
plural
coups de grâcea death blow, especially one delivered mercifully to end suffering.
any finishing or decisive stroke.
coup de grâce
/ ku də ɡrɑs /
noun
a mortal or finishing blow, esp one delivered as an act of mercy to a sufferer
a final or decisive stroke
coup de grâce
The final blow: “He had been getting deeper and deeper in debt; the fates delivered the coup de grâce when he died.” The phrase is French for “stroke of mercy.” It originally referred to the merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after he had faced a firing squad.
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of coup de grâce1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of coup de grâce1
Example Sentences
Australia's uncharacteristically tail failed to wag with Rabada providing the coup de grace to Australia's innings when he pinned back Starc's leg stump to claim his fifth wicket.
If the measure is signed into law by President Trump and survives impending legal challenges, the vote would serve as a coup de grace to the state’s decades-long efforts to comply with federal smog standards in Southern California and meet California’s own ambitious climate goals.
After gradually eliminating his cut-swing problems over the last few weeks, Sunday’s four-hit performance felt like Freeman’s coup de grâce.
Clarence Seedorf then beat Edwin van der Sar from the edge of the area and Alberto Gilardino provided the coup de grace.
The coup de grace came Thursday in a 6-4 Oilers’ win at a raucous Rogers Place, which has become a house of horrors for the Kings.
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When To Use
A coup de grâce is the final, decisive blow or strike—the deathblow or the knockout punch. It especially refers to one that’s considered merciful for putting someone out of their misery.Coup de grâce comes from French and literally means “stroke of mercy,” in which stroke refers to a physical blow, especially from a weapon. It can be used literally (and was formerly used in reference to executions). But it’s more often used figuratively to refer to an action that decisively brings something to an end, such as in sports when a team or player gets far enough ahead in scoring that the opponent can’t possibly come back to win.Coup de grâce is pronounced [ kooduh grahs ]. The proper plural form is coups de grâce. Example: That touchdown is certainly the coup de grâce that will knock the defending champions out of these playoffs.
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