Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
coup de grâce
English answer:
a death blow or shot administered in mercy to end the suffering of a person or animal mortally wounded
Added to glossary by
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
Mar 27, 2007 00:35
17 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
Poland
Automotive tEXtPERT
Native in: Polish
Works in: English to Polish, German to Polish, Polish to English, and 2 more.
coup de grâce
English
Marketing
Advertising / Public Relations
slogan to advertise a sports car
In the text I am translating I have come across this slogan "A real coup de grâce" to promote/advertise a new car with a coupe-convertible body.
I believe this does not work at all due to the sinister meaning of the phrase, despite the double-entendre referring to the words "coupe" and "grace". If anything, it is likely to have the opposite effect.
The authors, however, claim that in English the meaning has shifted and that the term "coup de grace" has come to mean "anything which skilfully brings a situation to a conclusion, or redefines a situation in the provocateur's favour".
I suspect the argument does not hold water, and perhaps "coup" is what they should be referring to, but not "coup de grâce".
Native speakers of English, please help!
I believe this does not work at all due to the sinister meaning of the phrase, despite the double-entendre referring to the words "coupe" and "grace". If anything, it is likely to have the opposite effect.
The authors, however, claim that in English the meaning has shifted and that the term "coup de grace" has come to mean "anything which skilfully brings a situation to a conclusion, or redefines a situation in the provocateur's favour".
I suspect the argument does not hold water, and perhaps "coup" is what they should be referring to, but not "coup de grâce".
Native speakers of English, please help!
Responses
| 5 +11 | THEY ARE WRONG AND YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL THEM |
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
|
| 4 +2 | stroke of mercy |
Kim Metzger
|
| 2 +4 | coup de théâtre |
Jack Doughty
|
| 5 | moment of truth; the decisive moment |
Carmen Schultz
|
| 4 | coup de foudre; coup de main |
Patricia Rosas
|
Responses
+11
5 mins
Selected
THEY ARE WRONG AND YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL THEM
*
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Note added at 7 mins (2007-03-27 00:43:01 GMT)
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They have completely misinterpreted this term and there has benn no modification of the original meaning:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Coup de grace
Coup means "a blow" so that won't work either.
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Note added at 10 mins (2007-03-27 00:46:42 GMT)
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it does mean to bring a situation to a conclusion but they are trying to play on words: coup and coupé. Of course they can make complete fools of themselves.
Repost your question for suggestions on slogans but certainly tell them they are wrong.
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Note added at 14 mins (2007-03-27 00:50:15 GMT)
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The coupé with/which makes a decisive (lifestyle) difference!
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Note added at 19 mins (2007-03-27 00:55:34 GMT)
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I wouldn't dare use something so ambiguous as a slogan for car advertising unless they want to imply that by driving it, there is a risk of being killed! Good Lord!
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Note added at 7 mins (2007-03-27 00:43:01 GMT)
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They have completely misinterpreted this term and there has benn no modification of the original meaning:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Coup de grace
Coup means "a blow" so that won't work either.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2007-03-27 00:46:42 GMT)
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it does mean to bring a situation to a conclusion but they are trying to play on words: coup and coupé. Of course they can make complete fools of themselves.
Repost your question for suggestions on slogans but certainly tell them they are wrong.
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Note added at 14 mins (2007-03-27 00:50:15 GMT)
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The coupé with/which makes a decisive (lifestyle) difference!
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Note added at 19 mins (2007-03-27 00:55:34 GMT)
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I wouldn't dare use something so ambiguous as a slogan for car advertising unless they want to imply that by driving it, there is a risk of being killed! Good Lord!
Note from asker:
| We are actually locked in an argument. Hence my question here. Thank you for your feedback. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Mike Gogulski
1 hr
|
| agree |
Jack Doughty
1 hr
|
| agree |
Dave Calderhead
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Elena Aleksandrova
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Melzie
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Mark Nathan
7 hrs
|
| agree |
Robert Fox
7 hrs
|
| agree |
Joe L
8 hrs
|
| agree |
P.L.F. Persio
10 hrs
|
| agree |
Christine Andersen
18 hrs
|
| agree |
Alp Berker
18 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much for your input which confirms my original suspicions. I intend to discuss this with the agency yet again."
+2
6 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
&
English
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
English term (edited):
coup de grã¢ce
stroke of mercy
You're right, Petrolhead, the authors are full of beans.
coup de grâce
(kooh duh GRAHS) The final blow: “He had been getting deeper and deeper in debt; the fates delivered the coup de grâce when he died.” The phrase is French for “stroke of mercy.” It originally referred to the merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after he had faced a firing squad.
http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/coupdegrace.html
coup de grâce
(kooh duh GRAHS) The final blow: “He had been getting deeper and deeper in debt; the fates delivered the coup de grâce when he died.” The phrase is French for “stroke of mercy.” It originally referred to the merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery or to the shot delivered to the head of a prisoner after he had faced a firing squad.
http://www.bartleby.com/59/4/coupdegrace.html
Note from asker:
| Thnak you for coming back to us, Kim. |
| Thank you very much for your input which confirms my original suspicions. |
7 mins
Patricia Rosas
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
servicios para autores académicos
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English
English term (edited):
coup de grã¢ce
coup de foudre; coup de main
This is Merriam-Webster's def:
1 : a death blow or shot administered in mercy to end the suffering of a person or animal mortally wounded
2 : a decisive finishing blow : an act or event that puts an end to something
I'm with you, this is NOT A GOOD CHOICE! Now this might wor, but it may not be well known enough:
coup de fou·dre
Etymology: French, literally, clap of thunder
: an astonishing occurrence; especially : overwhelming love at first sight
another possibility: coup de main (a sudden attack in force : vigorous attack : sudden forceful development)
I think it's more widely known.
GOOD LUCK!
1 : a death blow or shot administered in mercy to end the suffering of a person or animal mortally wounded
2 : a decisive finishing blow : an act or event that puts an end to something
I'm with you, this is NOT A GOOD CHOICE! Now this might wor, but it may not be well known enough:
coup de fou·dre
Etymology: French, literally, clap of thunder
: an astonishing occurrence; especially : overwhelming love at first sight
another possibility: coup de main (a sudden attack in force : vigorous attack : sudden forceful development)
I think it's more widely known.
GOOD LUCK!
Note from asker:
| Thank you very much for your input which confirms my original suspicions. |
+4
1 hr
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
English term (edited):
coup de grã¢ce
coup de théâtre
coup de thé·â·tre
(koomacr.giflprime.gif dschwa.gif tamacr.gif-äprime.giftrschwa.gif)
When I found this definition of coup de théâtre, it reminded me of what your client wrongly thinks that coup de grâce means. I don't think this is an ideal slogan either, but it's better than coup de grâce.
coup de théâtre definition
n. pl. coups de théâtre (koomacr.giflprime.gif)
1. A sudden dramatic turn of events in a play.
2. An unexpected and sensational event, especially one that reverses or negates a prevailing situation.
coup de théâtre etymology
[French : coup, stroke + de, of + théâtre, theater.]
(koomacr.giflprime.gif dschwa.gif tamacr.gif-äprime.giftrschwa.gif)
When I found this definition of coup de théâtre, it reminded me of what your client wrongly thinks that coup de grâce means. I don't think this is an ideal slogan either, but it's better than coup de grâce.
coup de théâtre definition
n. pl. coups de théâtre (koomacr.giflprime.gif)
1. A sudden dramatic turn of events in a play.
2. An unexpected and sensational event, especially one that reverses or negates a prevailing situation.
coup de théâtre etymology
[French : coup, stroke + de, of + théâtre, theater.]
Note from asker:
| Thank you very much for your input which confirms my original suspicions. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carmen Schultz
: this would be a good option if looking to change the phrase to something else
4 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
Joe L
: With Carmen
7 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
P.L.F. Persio
: that's what they probably meant.
8 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
Christine Andersen
: Good alternative - must be what they meant. Separately, the words 'coup' (as in scoop) and 'grace' (as in graceful) are fine in English, but the French expression still has its meaning intact for lots of us!
1 day 5 hrs
|
|
Thank you. Yes, that's how I see it too.
|
6 hrs
Carmen Schultz
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Accurate & Reliable
Native in: Spanish 
, English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to English, and 2 more.
English term (edited):
coup de grã¢ce
moment of truth; the decisive moment
this is how I am understanding it and in this context makes sense- by the way the 2nd definiton in Webster's Dict. is along the same lines:
2) A finishing or decisive act or event -
this def. does not necessarily need be negative and it used a lot in publicity
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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-03-27 06:58:26 GMT)
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Thailand's 'coup de grace' is not lacking in legitimacyTo understand the real nature of the coup, we must take into ... I do not hesitate to call it a coup de grace. Mechanisms set up for the interim regime ...
www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/18/opinion/opinion_3001646... - 26k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-03-27 08:38:08 GMT)
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The example I gave is not a good one, so just disregard it for now.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-03-27 08:38:44 GMT)
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But my other comments (except for example from internet) still hold.
2) A finishing or decisive act or event -
this def. does not necessarily need be negative and it used a lot in publicity
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Note added at 6 hrs (2007-03-27 06:58:26 GMT)
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Thailand's 'coup de grace' is not lacking in legitimacyTo understand the real nature of the coup, we must take into ... I do not hesitate to call it a coup de grace. Mechanisms set up for the interim regime ...
www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/18/opinion/opinion_3001646... - 26k - Cached - Similar pages
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-03-27 08:38:08 GMT)
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The example I gave is not a good one, so just disregard it for now.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-03-27 08:38:44 GMT)
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But my other comments (except for example from internet) still hold.
Note from asker:
| Sorry, but isn't the author of the article on Thailand really taking about "coupe d'etat"? This in my opinion shows the dubious reference value of the link you are quoting. |
| Thank you very much for your input. |
Discussion
It's important to note that words and phrases borrowed from another language often lose the meaning and/or connotation that they have in the original language. So a French speaker may interpret this differently...