IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUn coup de Jarnac
Meaning: An unexpected decisive stroke, delivered within the rules but not quite sportingly.
Literally: A Jarnac blow
Example: “À la dernière minute, son associé lui a porté un coup de Jarnac en rachetant ses parts.” — At the last minute, his partner dealt him a low blow by buying out his shares.
English equivalent: A low blow
Equivalents in other languages
English: a low blow
Origin: In a judicial duel of 1547 before Henri II, Guy Chabot de Jarnac won by an unforeseen low cut to his opponent's knee. The stroke was legal, which is exactly why the phrase carries ambiguity rather than simple condemnation.
More French idioms
- Perdre son latin To be completely baffled by something.
- Se reposer sur ses lauriers To coast on past achievements instead of continuing to work.
- Au pied de la lettre Literally, in the strictest sense.
- Entrer en lice To join a contest or dispute.
- Se faire limoger To be relieved of a post; to be sacked.
- Laver son linge sale en famille Keep internal disputes private.
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