nounplural noun coups de foudre/ˌkuː də ˈfuːdr(ə)/

• A sudden unforeseen event, in particular an instance of love at first sight.

  ‘their fateful meeting caused a coup de foudre that grew into lifelong love’

  More example sentences

  • ‘So it isn't a coup de foudre for him, 1916, in that sense.’
  • ‘She mistrusts the coup de foudre - her preference is for relationships that are embedded in networks of friends and family and cushioned by money.’
  • ‘Suffice to say there was a moment, call it the thunderbolt, the coup de foudre or whatever, where we both realised, blah blah blah.’
  • ‘They met through mutual friends at a party in London and it was a coup de foudre.’
  • ‘Had it not been for Victoria's coup de foudre or instant infatuation, she probably would have married someone with a more prestigious or powerful background.’
  • ‘And because when the coup de foudre strikes me (got to use French when you're talking about love), I'm the most soppily sentimental person you could meet.’
  • ‘But if there were other adventures or coups de foudre, they go unmentioned.’
  • ‘He represents truth - a primal punch in the face or coup de foudre, as the French say.’
  • ‘The completed film will be around 26 minutes long and will include references to coup de foudre, the search for the inspector, and Bulgaria.’
  • ‘I knew I was going to marry him the moment I saw him - pure coup de foudre.’
  • ‘The French refer to this as le coup de foudre.’
  • ‘The coup de foudre effect that Mario has had on me is a lasting one (that's in my nature, I always - stick to my man).’