un coup

The French noun “un coup” is versatile and widely used in various contexts. It can mean “a blow” or “a stroke,” but its meanings extend far beyond these basic definitions.

Basic Meanings

  1. A Blow or Hit
    • Il a reçu un coup à la tête. (He received a blow to the head.)
    • Donner un coup de pied. (To kick.)
  2. A Sudden Event
    • Il a fait un coup de téléphone. (He made a phone call.)
    • Un coup de vent a renversé l’arbre. (A gust of wind knocked over the tree.)
  3. A Quick Action
    • Faire un coup d’œil. (To glance quickly.)
    • Un coup de frein. (A sudden brake.)

Idiomatic Expressions

“Un coup” appears in many idiomatic expressions, each with its own unique meaning. Here are some common ones:

  1. Coup de Foudre
    • Un coup de foudre translates to “love at first sight.” It describes the suddenness of falling in love instantly.
    • Quand je l’ai vue, c’était le coup de foudre. (When I saw her, it was love at first sight.)
  2. Coup de Grâce
    • Le coup de grâce literally means “the blow of mercy.” Historically, it refers to the final blow delivered to end the suffering of a mortally wounded person or animal. Figuratively, it signifies a decisive finishing action that brings an end to something.
    • La nouvelle a été le coup de grâce pour le projet. (The news was the final blow for the project.)
  3. Coup de Main
    • Un coup de main means “a helping hand” or assistance.
    • J’ai besoin d’un coup de main pour déménager. (I need a helping hand to move.)
  4. Coup de Théâtre
    • Un coup de théâtre describes a dramatic turn of events, especially in a story or play.
    • La fin du film a été un véritable coup de théâtre. (The end of the movie was a real twist.)
  5. Coup d’État
    • Un coup d’État is a “coup” or a sudden overthrow of a government.
    • Le coup d’État a changé le régime du pays. (The coup changed the country’s regime.)
  6. Coup de Chapeau
    • Un coup de chapeau means “a tip of the hat,” used to express admiration or respect.
    • Un coup de chapeau à l’artiste pour cette magnifique performance. (A tip of the hat to the artist for this magnificent performance.)
  7. Boire un Coup
    • Boire un coup translates to “to have a drink.”
    • Allons boire un coup après le travail. (Let’s have a drink after work.)
  8. Un Coup de Pouce
    • Un coup de pouce means “a little push” or help to achieve something.
    • Il m’a donné un coup de pouce pour finir le projet. (He gave me a little help to finish the project.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • coûte que coûte

    The French phrase coûte que coûte literally means “cost what it may” or “whatever it costs.” It expresses determination to achieve something regardless of the cost, difficulty, or risk involved. It is one of the most common French idioms for expressing absolute resolve. It comes from the verb coûter (to cost) and the conjunction que…

  • savoir vs connaître

    The Difference Between “Savoir” and “Connaître” in French In French, both “savoir” and “connaître” mean “to know,” but they are used in different contexts. Understanding when to use each verb is important to communicate clearly. 1. Savoir – To Know a Fact or How to Do Something “Savoir” is used when you’re talking about knowing…

  • être de retour

    Understanding the French Phrase être de retour The French phrase être de retour translates to “to be back” in English. It is used to indicate that someone or something has returned to a place or state. This expression is common in everyday conversation and can be applied in various contexts. Meaning and Usage Être de…

  • |

    -al words

    French words that end in the letters “al” can be a trap for learners. That’s because in the plural, they change their spelling to “aux.” The classic example is “un cheval,” which in the plural becomes “des chevaux.” But this applies to every single noun and adjective ending in the letters “al.” Nouns are relatively…

  • at, et vs act, ect

    The differences in the French endings -at, -et, -act, and -ect for words that have English equivalents (such as contract, contact, suspect, subject, and object) come down to their etymological history and phonetic evolution. 1. Latin Origins and French Evolution Most of these words come from Latin, where their root forms had endings like -actus…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *