coup de tonnerre

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ku də tɔ.nɛʁ/

Noun

coup de tonnerre m (plural coups de tonnerre)

1. thunderclap (sudden, loud thunder caused by a nearby lightning strike)

   Coordinate term: coup de foudre

2. (figuratively) bolt from the blue, thunderclap, thunderbolt (event that is terrible, horrific or unexpected)