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WHAT IS the meaning of "coup de grace"?
(K. L. Bhatia New Delhi)
This is a French expression, which means "stroke of grace" or "stroke of mercy". It was first used to refer to any kind of mercy killing. A "coup de grace" is the deathblow given to an individual or an animal who/which has been very badly injured. Nowadays, the expression is used to refer to an action, which puts an end to something. The "oup" in "coup" sounds like the "oo" in "pool", "cool", and "stool"; the final "p" is silent. The "e" in "de" is like the "a" in "china"; the "a" in "grace" is pronounced like the "a" in "ask", "path", and "bath". The final "ce" is like the "s" in "sit", "set" and "seat". In other words, "grace" is pronounced like "grass". The main stress is on "grace".
* Lee administered the coup de grace by dismissing Tendulkar and Dravid in the same over.
* An unfortunate car accident dealt the coup de grace to his acting career.
S. Upendran
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