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hors de combat

/ɔr də kɔmbɑ/
IPA guide

During wartime, an injured soldier who is unable to fight is described as hors de combat. You can also say your trusty bike is hors de combat after you crash it into a mailbox.

The French phrase hors de combat means "out of combat." It was originally used as a legal term in France, as an official lawful excuse for soldiers not to participate in combat, and adopted by English speakers. Enemy fighters who are hors de combat must be protected as prisoners of war. And figuratively, you're hors de combat when you're simply out of the running: "I'm hors de combat in the cake competition after I mistook salt for sugar!"

Definitions of hors de combat
  1. adjective
    out of action due to injury, illness, or damage
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