coup de grace: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “coup de grace” mean?
A final, decisive, and merciful blow or act that ends something, especially a person or an endeavour, which is suffering or doomed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A final, decisive, and merciful blow or act that ends something, especially a person or an endeavour, which is suffering or doomed.
A finishing, final touch or event that completes or settles something, often in a way that is conclusive and definitive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling often retains the French acute accent (coup de grâce) more consistently in UK English, while US English frequently anglicizes it to 'coup de grace' without the accent. Pronunciation of the final 's' in 'grâce' is more often silent in UK English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries a dramatic, often violent or final, connotation. It is equally associated with history, literature, and dramatic description.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK writing, particularly in historical or political commentary, but common in both varieties in formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “coup de grace” in a Sentence
The [Subject] delivered/administered the coup de grâce to [Object].The [Event/Blow] proved to be the coup de grâce for [Entity].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coup de grace” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scandal coup de grâce'd his political career.
American English
- The bad review coup de graced the restaurant's reputation.
adverb
British English
- The project failed coup-de-grâce.
American English
- It ended coup de grace.
adjective
British English
- The coup-de-grâce moment came when the evidence was revealed.
American English
- The coup de grace blow was financial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The sudden interest rate hike was the coup de grâce for the struggling start-up."
Academic
"The discovery of contradictory evidence served as the coup de grâce to the long-held theory."
Everyday
"His sarcastic comment was the coup de grâce that ended the awkward dinner party."
Technical
"In historical fencing, a coup de grâce was delivered to a fallen, incapacitated opponent."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coup de grace”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coup de grace”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coup de grace”
- Misspelling as 'coup de gras' (French for 'fat stroke').
- Using it to mean 'the best part' or 'climax' without the sense of final, destructive conclusion.
- Incorrect plural: 'coups de grâce' (plural of 'coup' is 'coups', 'grâce' remains singular).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is pronounced 'coo' (like the sound a dove makes), not 'coop'. The 'p' is silent.
In formal writing, especially British English, the accents (coup de grâce) are preferred. In digital/online US English, 'coup de grace' is common. The accent on 'grâce' is crucial to avoid the 'gras' (fat) error.
Rarely. Its core meaning involves ending something, often painfully or mercifully. A 'positive coup de grâce' would be contradictory, though it could end a negative situation, which is a positive outcome.
A 'coup de grâce' is a finishing stroke. A 'coup d'état' (often shortened to 'coup') is a sudden, illegal seizure of government power. They are completely different terms.
A final, decisive, and merciful blow or act that ends something, especially a person or an endeavour, which is suffering or doomed.
Coup de grace is usually formal, literary in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The last nail in the coffin (less formal)”
- “The final straw”
- “To put someone/something out of their/its misery”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'grace' not as elegance, but as a merciful release from suffering. A 'coup' is a strike. So, a 'strike of grace' ends the pain.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENDING IS A MERCIFUL KILLING / COMPLETION IS A FATAL BLOW.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate meaning of 'coup de grâce'?