Coup de grace is a French term that means a death blow or a merciful stroke. This article will cover in-depth the coup de grace meaning, how to use the term, how to pronounce it, and what some similar terms are.
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What Is the Meaning of Coup de Grace?
Coup de grace, pronounced COO-DUH-GRAS (“Gras” almost rhymes with “floss”), is a death blow or a blow of mercy ending a suffering person or animal’s pain and misery.
Coup de grace has other meanings. One of those is a decisive action or event bringing something to its conclusion. Another is such an action or event, making the end foreseeable and inevitable. It’s not uncommon to hear this in the context of athletics or politics.
What Is the Origin of Coup de Grace?
Coup de grâce means “stroke of grace” in French. English speakers began using it in the late 1600s.
The first usage may have been in wartime. Long ago, it was common to administer a mercy killing to a mortally or horribly wounded soldier or horse. Another early usage was connected to executions by firing squad. If the condemned did not die right away, someone would shoot the prisoner in the head.
Synonyms of Coup de Grace
Since many people struggle to pronounce coup de grace correctly, it’s good to know that there are many alternatives. You might decide that one or more of them better fits the particular context. Following are several examples.
- Mercy killing
- Death blow
- Kiss of death
- Dispatch
- Knockout blow
- Kill shot
- Clincher
- Stroke of mercy
- Euthanize
What Is the Difference Between a Coup d’etat and a Coup de Grace?
A coup d’etat (COO-DAY-TA) is a violent, illegal, and sudden overthrow of a government. For example, an angry mob trying to depose a leader is attempting a coup d’etat. It’s a French term that means “stroke of state.”
Again, a coup de grace is a mercy killing or a decisive action or event ending something. After a coup d’etat, those behind it might administer a coup de grace to a vanquished foe.
When and How to Use Coup de Grace?
You can use coup de grace in both written and spoken conversations. Since it’s a noun, you have to use it as such. You can’t say, “I’ll coup de grace the other team,” for example. Because it’s a unique word, it should be part of a sentence, not a stand-alone expression.
Something important to note is how to form the plural. In English, most plurals end in –s or -es. However, the plural of coup de grace is coups de grace. See below:
- The vet’s job was agonizing on days she had to administer several coups de grace for terminally ill pets.
In short, the plural coups de grace is correct.
Here are some situations that can involve a coup de grace:
- Killing someone to put them out of incurable suffering. That used to happen a lot in war. Today, a good example is when physician-assisted suicide is legal in certain countries.
- An animal injured so badly it cannot recover and is in terrible pain.
- Canceling a TV show that is doing terribly in ratings.
- A badly lopsided boxing match where the winner finally lands a knockout punch.
- Final defeat for legislation a lawmaker has been struggling to pass.
Examples sentences:
- The fatally wounded person begged for a coup de grace to make his death quick and painless.
- After the battle, the king ordered a speedy coup de grace for every dying soldier from his army.
- The late interception was the coup de grace, ending the team’s playoff hopes.
- A defection from her own party was a coup de grace for the governor’s efforts to pass the law.
- It was heartbreaking, but euthanizing our dog was a coup de grace when she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.
Final Thoughts
The original coup de grace meaning was an end to a mortally wounded person or animal’s pain. Today, we also use it in non-lethal contexts like politics and sports. In any context, it involves finally bringing something to an end. That end is usually unavoidable, and there’s a desire not to drag things out.
