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Jul 22, 2011
This week's theme
Words of French origin

This week's words
nouveau riche
voulu
mise en scene
pur sang
coup de main

This week's comments
AWADmail 473

Next week's theme
Animal-related words that are used metaphorically
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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

coup de main

PRONUNCIATION:
(kood-uh-MAN*)
[* the last syllable is nasal]

MEANING:
noun: A surprise attack or sudden action.

ETYMOLOGY:
From French, literally "blow of the hand" (as opposed to from the artillery). Earliest documented use: 1759.

USAGE:
"This astonishing coup de main had results which were decisive on the development of the first day's fighting."
Major John Howard: Obituary; The Times (London, UK); May 7, 1999.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Ideas that enter the mind under fire remain there securely and for ever. -Leon Trotsky, revolutionary and writer (1879-1940)

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