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brink chu-ko-nu clan confound coup

brink

brink /brɪŋk/ noun

  1. the brink (of something) a situation when you are almost in a new situation, usually a bad one

    on the brink of death/disaster/war etc

    • In October 1962 the world seemed on the brink of nuclear war.
    • The company had huge debts and was on the brink of collapse.

    to the brink (of something)

    • managers who have taken their companies to the brink of disaster

    back from the brink (of something)

    • He will go down in history as the leader who pulled us back from the brink (=saved us from disaster).

  2. push/tip somebody over the brink to make someone start doing crazy or extreme things

  3. the brink of something literary the edge of a very high place such as a cliff

chu-ko-nu

Repeating crossbow 诸葛

clan

clan /klæn/ noun [countable]

  1. a large group of families who often share the same name:

    • the Campbell clan
    • warring clans

  2. informal a very large family:

    • The whole clan will be here over Christmas.

confound

con·found /kənˈfaʊnd/ verb [transitive]

  1. to confuse and surprise people by being unexpected:
    • His amazing recovery confounded the medical specialists.

coup

coup /kuː/ noun [countable]

  1. a sudden and sometimes violent attempt by citizens or the army to take control of the government SYN coup d'état:

    • Haiti’s first elected President was deposed in a violent military coup.
    • a coup attempt by junior officers
    • He evaded capture after the failed coup.

  2. an achievement that is extremely impressive because it was very difficult:

    • Beating Arsenal was a major coup for the club.

Reference

  • Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English