cou de grau?

[Sharon Jones]

How do you properly spell "cou de grau" and what exactly does it mean?

[Neil Coffey]

I think you may mean coup de grâce, which means something like "final use/wound etc to finish something/somebody off". For example: "These shoes are just about ready for the dustbin. Tomorrow's hiking trip will be the final coup de grâce."

N.B. All rumous that coup de grâce is French for lawnmower are of course unfounded.

[Sharon Jones]

Neil,

Thanks for your reply. I have to agree with you..... your spelling looks correct...... at least the way I remember seeing the phrase in the past. I was able to find your spelling in a french/english dictionary. Thanks again.