Le coin des branchés
(August - September 08)
There are few words in French with so many idiomatic uses as the word coup (a blow). Below is just a small sample of the multitude of expressions you can hear all the time.
Du coup = consequently/as a result.
A coup sûr = for sure.
Sur le coup = immediately. La victime a été tuée sur le coup = The victim was killed instantly.
Sous le coup de = in the grip of/under the influence of.
Au coup par coup = as the need arises.
Tout à coup = suddenly.
Tout d’un coup = all at once.
Boire un coup = to have a drink.
Valoir le coup = to be worth the effort
Un coup de fil/de téléphone = a phone call.
Faire d’une pierre deux coups = to kill two birds with one stone.
Les 400 coups = youthful mischief.
Le coup du lapin = whip lash.
Un coup de bambou = too expensive. J’évite d’aller dans ce magasin, c’est toujours le coup de bambou chez eux = I avoid going to this shop, it’s always too expensive there.
Un coup de pied = a kick.
Un coup de poing = a blow with a fist/a punch.
Un coup de tête = on a whim. Il est parti sur un coup de tête = he left quickly, without thinking about it beforehand.
Un coup d’œil = a glance.
Un coup de main = a helping hand.
Un coup de pouce = idem.
Un coup de collier = a final effort to finish something quickly.
Un coup d’éclat = a commotion. Il a fait un coup d’éclat hier soir = He made a big fuss about things last night.
Un coup de gueule = an argument or expression of discontent.
Un coup de sang = a burst of anger.
Un coup de foudre = love at first sight.
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