coup de foudre

[ koo duh foo-druh ]

noun

, French.

, plural coups de fou·dre [koo d, uh, , foo, -dr, uh].

1. a thunderbolt.
2. love at first sight.

coup de foudre

/ ku də fudrə /

noun

1. a sudden and amazing action or event

Word History and Origins

Origin of coup de foudre¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from French: literally “bolt of lightning”

Word History and Origins

Origin of coup de foudre¹

literally: lightning flash

Example Sentences

He had done the same thing a hundred times before; but this, he told himself, was the coup de foudre—the thunderbolt.

From Project Gutenberg

It was le coup de foudre of a French writer on the affections—M. Stendhal.

From Project Gutenberg

When a thing like this happens—a genuine coup-de-foudre—a man is only a fool who doesn't face it and admit it at once.

From Project Gutenberg

But I happen to know its a love match: love at first sight; a regular coup de foudre.

From Project Gutenberg

Was he a man for a coup-de-foudre, the lightning stroke of love?

From Project Gutenberg