coup
A sudden action when a small group takes control from the people in power, often in a country or a company, and often not by law.
A sudden, often illegal or violent action in which a small group takes power from a government or from the leaders of an organization.
A big and surprising success that gives a person or group a strong advantage.
A highly successful, often unexpected action or achievement that gives someone a strong advantage, especially in business, media, or politics.
In some games, a special clever move that follows a plan and may lose something first to win more later.
In games such as bridge or chess, a specific, named strategic play that may involve a sacrifice in order to gain a later advantage.
In some Native American groups, a brave act in war when a fighter touches an enemy and then escapes without being hurt.
In some Native American cultures, the act of touching an enemy in battle and getting away unharmed, considered a mark of great bravery.
- Base: coup
- Plural: coups
attempted coup
1failed effort to seize power
An effort to take power by coup that did not succeed.
- Dozens of officers were arrested after the attempted coup.
- The government downplayed reports of an attempted coup last year.
bloodless coup
1coup without bloodshed
A coup where power changes hands but no one is killed.
- The prime minister resigned after a largely bloodless coup.
- The opposition hoped for a bloodless coup rather than a civil war.
boardroom coup
1sudden takeover inside a company
A sudden action by company directors or top managers to remove the leader and take control of the business.
- The CEO lost his job in a boardroom coup led by rival executives.
- Shareholders were shocked by the surprise boardroom coup.
count coup
1perform and record brave enemy touches
In some Native American cultures, to do and record brave acts in war, especially touching an enemy and escaping without harm.
- Warriors sought to count coup rather than simply kill their enemies.
- The story explains how young men proved themselves by counting coup in battle.
coup d'état
1sudden illegal takeover of government
A sudden and illegal action when a small group takes control of a country’s government.
- The military carried out a coup d'état and dissolved the parliament.
- International observers condemned the coup d'état and demanded new elections.
coup de grâce
1final blow that ends something
The final action that destroys or ends something that is already very weak or almost finished.
- The scandal was the coup de grâce to his political career.
- The loss of their main sponsor delivered the coup de grâce to the struggling team.
diplomatic coup
1major diplomatic success
A big and surprising success in international relations that gives a country a strong advantage.
- Securing the peace deal was hailed as a diplomatic coup for the new government.
- Winning support from both sides was a significant diplomatic coup.
military coup
1coup led by the army
A coup in which the army or other armed forces take control of the government.
- The president was removed from office in a military coup.
- Several countries in the region have recently experienced military coups.
PR coup
1public relations success
A big and surprising success that makes a person or organization look good in the media or to the public.
- The charity partnership turned out to be a huge PR coup for the company.
- Getting that celebrity on board was a real PR coup.
Palace coup
1Internal political takeover
When leaders in power secretly take control from other leaders without public fighting.
- The president was removed in a palace coup by his own ministers.
- Rumors of a palace coup spread through the capital.
Palace coup
2secret internal leadership takeover
A secret action by people inside a ruling group or organization to remove its leader and take power themselves.
- The finance minister was ousted in what many described as a palace coup.
- Rumors of a palace coup spread through the party’s top ranks.