Ever had one of those moments when you’re breezing through your day, feeling invincible, and then suddenly, BAM! It feels like someone just pulled the plug on your energy reserves. Congratulations, you’ve just experienced a classic French phenomenon known as a “coup de barre.”

Literally translating to “a blow from a bar,” this delightful idiom perfectly captures that sudden wave of fatigue that crashes over you out of nowhere. It’s as if the universe decided to whack you with an invisible, sleep-inducing stick. One minute, you’re conquering your to-do list, and the next, you’re contemplating a nap under your desk.

You may have heard some other expressions using the word ‘coup’ such as ‘coup de foudre’ which literally is a lightning bolt but figuratively means love at first sight. Un coup de soleil is sunburn, which I hope we are all avoiding now we finally have some good weather.

What other expressions can you find that use the word ‘coup’? Please comment below!