Tout d'un coup
Example: Tout d'un coup, il a commencé à pleuvoir très fort.
Definition
"Tout d'un coup" is a French expression meaning suddenly or all at once, used to describe an event that happens unexpectedly and quickly, often catching someone by surprise. For example, "Tout d'un coup, il a commencé à pleuvoir très fort" means it suddenly started raining heavily.
Etymology
The expression "Tout d'un coup" literally translates to "all of a blow" or "all at once" in English. It combines "tout" meaning all, "d'" a contraction of de (of), and "un coup" meaning a blow or strike. The phrase evokes the image of something happening in a single impactful moment, much like a sudden strike.
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"Tout d'un coup" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 119 commonly used expressions.
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