coup de main

/'ku:də'mæɳ/
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Thân thiện
coup de main

A small group of soldiers executes a coup de main against the enemy outpost at dawn.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A sudden, swift attack without warning; a surprise assault: "coup de main" refers specifically to a military operation characterized by speed, surprise, and the element of shock to achieve a rapid objective, often before the enemy can effectively respond.
Usage
  • The term is used primarily in military, strategic, or historical contexts to describe a rapid, decisive action. It is a formal term borrowed from French, meaning literally "stroke of hand" or "handstroke," implying a swift, manual action.
  • It describes an operation, not a prolonged campaign. The focus is on the suddenness and surprise of the initial action.
Examples
  • The capture of the strategic bridge was a brilliant coup de main executed at dawn.
  • Their plan relied on a coup de main to seize the airfield before reinforcements could arrive.
  • The general advocated for a coup de main rather than a protracted siege.
Advanced Usage
  • The term can be used metaphorically in non-military contexts to describe any swift, decisive, and surprising action that achieves a goal.
    • The company's takeover of the smaller firm was a financial coup de main that stunned the market.
Variants and Related Words
  • Coup (n): A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government. Also used for any notable success.
  • Coup de grâce (n): A final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or thing; a decisive finishing event.
  • Blitzkrieg (n): An intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory (German for "lightning war"), a related but broader concept.
  • Surprise attack (n): A more general English phrase for an attack made without warning.
Synonyms
  • Surprise attack
  • Sudden assault
  • Raid (though a raid can be expected)
  • Swift strike
Antonyms
  • Siege (a prolonged military operation)
  • Protracted campaign
  • War of attrition
Related Idioms/Phrases
  • Lightning strike: An idiom describing a very fast and sudden action, often in a military or strategic context.
  • Out of the blue: An idiom meaning suddenly and unexpectedly, which can describe the nature of a .
coup de main

A small group of soldiers executes a coup de main against the enemy outpost at dawn.

Noun
  1. an attack without warning

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