French Expressions Using "Coup"

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The French word un coup literally refers to a "shock" or "blow" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Here's how to say whiplash, dirty trick, manna from heaven, and more with this list of expressions featuring coup.

Possible Meanings of Coup

  • blow
  • move (chess)
  • punch (boxing)
  • shock
  • shot (archery)
  • stroke (cricket, golf, tennis)
  • throw (dice)
  • trick, practical joke

Expressions Using Coup

un beau coup d'œil
a nice view
un coup à la porte
knock on the door
un coup bas
low blow
un coup de l'amitié (informal)
one (drink) for the road
un coup de barre (informal)
temporary but extreme fatigue
un coup de bélier
waterhammer; violent shock ​
un coup de boule (familiar)
headbutt
un coup de chance
piece/stroke of luck
un coup du ciel
manna from heaven
un coup de cœur
intense but fleeting interest/passion
un coup de crayon
pencil stroke
un coup de destin
blow dealt by fate
un coup d'État
overthrow of the government
un coup de l'étrier (informal)
one (drink) for the road
un coup d'épée dans l'eau
a complete waste of time
un coup de fil (informal)
phone call
un coup de foudre
bolt of lightning; love at first sight
un coup du lapin (informal)
rabbit punch; whiplash
un coup de main
helping hand, assistance
un coup de marteau
hammer blow
un coup d'œil
glance
un coup de pied
kick
un coup de pinceau
brush stroke
un coup de plume
pen stroke
un coup de poing
punch
un coup de pompe
tiredness
un coup de pot (familiar)
stroke of luck
un coup de pouce
helping hand, a nudge in the right direction
un coup de salaud (familiar)
dirty trick
un coup de sang
stroke; extreme anger
un coup de soleil
sunburn
un coup du sort
blow dealt by fate
un coup de tête
sudden impulse, head-butt
un coup de veine (informal)
stroke of luck
un coup de vieux (informal)
sudden aging
un coup dur
tough blow, something difficult to accept
un coup en traître
stab in the back
un coup en vache (familiar)
dirty trick
un coup monté
frame-up
un coup pour rien
a waste of time
coups et blessures (law)
assault and battery
un mauvais coup
dirty trick, mean trick, nasty blow
un sale coup
dreadful blow
accuser le coup
to stagger under the blow / shock
attraper le coup
to get the knack
attraper un coup de soleil
to get sunburn
avoir le coup
to have the knack
avoir le coup de foudre
to fall in love at first sight
avoir le coup de main
to have the touch
avoir le coup d'œil
to have a good eye
avoir un bon coup de crayon
to be good at drawing
avoir un coup dans le nez (informal)
to be drunk, to have had one too many
avoir un coup de barre (informal)
to be drained/exhausted
avoir un coup de blues (informal)
to have the blues, feel blue
avoir un coup de pompe
to feel suddenly exhausted, drained
boire un coup
to have a drink
donner des coups dans la porte
to bang on the door
donner un coup à quelqu'un
to hit someone
se donner un coup à la tête / au bras
to bang one's head / arm
donner un coup d'arrêt à
to check, put a break on
donner un coup de lime / chiffon / éponge / brosse à
to run a file / cloth / sponge / brush over
donner un coup de poignard dans le dos
to stab someone in the back, betray someone
donner un coup de téléphone
to make a phone call
donner un coup sec (pour dégager quelque chose)
to hit something sharply (to loosen or release it)
donner un coup de vieux (informal)
to put years on, make obsolete
en mettre un coup
to put one's effort into it
en prendre un coup (informal)
to have a blast, a great time; to be affected by s.t.; to take a blow, hammering (figurative)
en venir aux coups
to come to blows
être aux cent coups
to be frantic, to not know which way to turn
être dans le coup (informal)
to be in on it​
être hors du coup (informal)
to not be in on it
être sur un coup (informal)
to be up to something
faire d'une pierre deux coups
to kill two birds with one stone
faire le coup d'être malade
to pretend to be sick
faire les quatre cents coups
to sow one's wild oats, get in trouble, lead a wild life
faire un coup
to do a job
faire un coup d'éclat
to create a commotion, make a fuss (positive or negative)
faire un coup de vache à quelqu'un (informal)
to play a dirty trick on someone
faire un mauvais coup à quelqu'un
to play a mean/dirty trick on someone
faire un sale coup à quelqu'un
to play a dirty trick on someone
jeter un coup d'œil à
to glance at
lancer un coup d'œil à
to glance at​
manquer le coup
to fail completely, botch it
marquer le coup (informal)
to mark the occasion, to show a reaction
monter le coup à quelqu'un (familiar)
to take someone for a ride
monter un coup
to plan/pull a job
passer en coup de vent
to visit/pass by very briefly/quickly
prendre un coup de vieux (informal)
to age, become old
réussir un beau coup (informal)
to pull it off
sonner un coup
to ring (doorbell, bell)
tenir le coup
to hold out, resist
tenter le coup (informal)
to have a go, try one's luck
tirer un coup de revolver / feu
to fire a shot
valoir le coup
to be worth it
Ça a porté un coup sévère (à leur moral) 
That dealt a sharp blow (to their morale).
Ça lui a fait un coup. (informal)
It was a bit of a shock for him.
Ça vaut le coup
It's worth it.
Ça vaut le coup d'œil.​
It's worth seeing.
C'est bien un coup à lui.
That's just like him (to do that).
C'est le coup de barre ici. (informal)
You pay through the nose here.
C'est un coup à se dégoûter ! (informal)
It's enough to make you sick!
C'est un coup à se tuer ! (informal)
That's a good way to get killed!
Il en met un sacré coup. (informal)
He's really going at it.
Je me donnerais des coups !
I could kick myself!
Le coup est parti.
The gun went off.
Les coups pleuvaient.
Blows rained down.
Les coups tombaient dru.
Blows fell thick and fast.
à chaque / tout coup
every time
à coup sûr
definitely
à six coups
six-shot
à tous les coups
every time
après coup
afterwards
au coup par coup
on an ad hoc basis
avant les trois coups (theater)
before the curtain goes up
coup sur coup
one after another
du coup
as a result
du même coup
at the same time, all the same
du premier coup
right away, right off the bat
d'un seul coup
in one try, at one go
pour un coup
for once
rire un bon coup
to have a good laugh
sous le coup de
in the grip of
sur le coup
outright, at the time, at first
sur le coup de 10 heures
around 10 o'clock
tout à coup
all of a sudden
tout d'un coup
all at once

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Team, ThoughtCo. "French Expressions Using "Coup"." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/french-expressions-with-coup-1368660. Team, ThoughtCo. (2023, April 5). French Expressions Using "Coup". Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/french-expressions-with-coup-1368660 Team, ThoughtCo. "French Expressions Using "Coup"." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/french-expressions-with-coup-1368660 (accessed March 19, 2024).