foudre de guerre

French

Etymology

Compare Italian fulmine di guerra.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fu.dʁə d(ə) ɡɛʁ/

Noun

foudre de guerre m (plural foudres de guerre)

1. powerful warrior; very effective and rapidly-acting leader

   Ce n’est pas un foudre de guerre. ― He's not the brightest.

Usage notes

• Now chiefly used in the negative and humorously.

See also

• machine de guerre