Both Uses of
coup
in
Unbroken, by Hillenbrand
- He even considered working as a mercenary bombardier in an attempted coup in a small Caribbean country,
p. 362.9 *coup = sudden overthrow of a government by use of limited force
- ...and was still thinking it over when the coup was called off.
p. 363.0
Definitions:
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(1)
(coup as in: deposed in the coup) the sudden overthrow of a government by use of limited forceThis sense of coup is also called a coup d'état.
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(2)
(coup as in: a financial coup) a brilliant and notable successThe term "coup de theatre" indicates a sensational moment in a theatrical stagecraft -- typically a surprise; or possibly a highly successful theatrical production.
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(3)
(coup de grace as in: delivered the coup de grace) deathblow
(literally a sword strike that mercifully kills a wounded animal, or metaphorically as the last in a series of things that defeated an opponent, idea, business or other entity.)The term coup de grace indicates a merciful death blow.