grand coup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary, journalistic; common in strategic/business discourse.
Quick answer
What does “grand coup” mean?
A sudden, brilliant, and decisive action or strategic move that achieves a major advantage, particularly in competitive contexts like business, politics, or games.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sudden, brilliant, and decisive action or strategic move that achieves a major advantage, particularly in competitive contexts like business, politics, or games.
An ambitious, high-stakes maneuver designed to completely change the situation or achieve a dominant position in a single move. Often implies boldness, risk, and a significant reversal of fortunes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and recognition are broadly similar. Slightly more prevalent in British journalistic and political commentary.
Connotations
Same core connotations of brilliance and decisiveness in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; primarily found in analytical or narrative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “grand coup” in a Sentence
[Agent] pulled off a grand coup by [action]The grand coup of [achievement]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a major acquisition, deal, or innovation that reshapes the market.
Academic
Used in historical/political analysis to describe a pivotal strategic decision.
Everyday
Very rare; might describe an exceptionally clever personal achievement.
Technical
Used in game theory and strategic studies to denote a optimal, winning move.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grand coup”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grand coup”
- Using it for any small success (overuse).
- Confusing with 'coup de grâce' (final blow).
- Misspelling as 'grand coupe' (a car model).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a relatively high-register, literary phrase used for emphasis in specific contexts like journalism, business, or history.
Yes, it can be used metaphorically to describe a game-winning play or tactical decision of exceptional brilliance.
A 'coup' is a sudden, successful action. A 'grand coup' emphasizes the scale, ambition, and transformative impact of that success.
No, it is typically written as two separate words: 'grand coup'.
A sudden, brilliant, and decisive action or strategic move that achieves a major advantage, particularly in competitive contexts like business, politics, or games.
Grand coup is usually formal, literary, journalistic; common in strategic/business discourse. in register.
Grand coup: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡræn ˈkuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡræn ˈkuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Checkmate move (chess metaphor)”
- “Land a knockout blow (boxing metaphor)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a chess grandmaster (GRAND) making a sudden, winning move that takes the king (a COUP). GRAND COUP = a grandmaster's winning move.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR/GAME: Competition is a battle/game; a superior strategy is a decisive strike.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'grand coup' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?