coup de foudre

English

Etymology

Borrowing from French coup de foudre.

Noun

coup de foudre (plural coups de foudre)

1. A sudden unexpected event, especially an emotional one; love at first sight.
   • 2007, Edwin Mullins, The Popes of Avignon, Blue Bridge 2008, p. 84:

     The encounter with Laura that Good Friday was a coup de foudre, and for the rest of his life he was to adore her, mostly from afar.

French

Noun

coup de foudre m (plural coups de foudre)

1. (idiomatic) bolt from the blue; love at first sight

   Quand j’ai fait la connaissance d’Henri, ç’a été le coup de foudre ! - When I met Henri, it was love at first sight!

See also

• amourette
• coup de cœur