coup de main

coup de main  (k d m)

n. pl. coups de main (k)

A sudden action undertaken to surprise an enemy.

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[French : coup, stroke, blow + de, of + main, hand.]

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coup de main French [ku də mɛ̃]

n pl coups de main [ku də mɛ̃]

(Military) Chiefly military an attack that achieves complete surprise

[literally: blow with the hand]

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coup de main - A sudden and unexpected movement or attack.

See also related terms for sudden.

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An offensive operation that capitalizes on surprise and simultaneous execution of supporting operations to achieve success in one swift stroke.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

coup de main - an attack without warning             surprise attack attack, onrush, onset, onslaught - (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons); "the attack began at dawn" terrorist attack - a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims ambuscade, ambush, lying in wait, trap - the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise pre-emptive strike - a surprise attack that is launched in order to prevent the enemy from doing it to you