**country and western**      316
**ˌcountry and 'western** also **country music,** *abbrev.* **C&W** *n* [U] popular music in the style of the southern and western US. Its centre is Nashville in Tennessee: *She sings in a country and western band.*
**ˌcountry 'bumpkin** *n* $\rightarrow$ see BUMPKIN
**'country club** *n* a sports and social club, usually with land in the country. The members of a country club usually have to be quite rich to afford to belong to it.
**'Country ˌCode, the** *BrE* a set of instructions that advise people who live in cities how to behave when they visit the countryside. For example, according to the Country Code you should always close gates in fields after using them, and you should keep your dog under control.
**ˌcountry 'cousin** *n derog* a simple inexperienced person who is confused by busy city life $\rightarrow$ see also BUMPKIN
**ˌcountry 'dance** /ǁ'.. ./ *n* any of several dances for several pairs of dancers arranged in rows or circles **-country dancing** *n* [U]
**ˌcountry 'house** *n BrE* a large house in the country, often of historical interest, which the public can pay to see around. The house's owners sometimes do not live in it, or it may be owned by an organization such as the NATIONAL TRUST $\rightarrow$ see also STATELY HOME
**ˌCountry 'Life** *trademark* a British monthly magazine which contains articles about impressive homes and gardens in the country, and important social activities there. It is usually thought of as a magazine for rich people who live in the country.
**coun·try·man** /'kʌntrimən/, **coun·try·wom·an** /-ˌwʊmən/ *fem.* -**n** *pl.* -**men** /-mən/ **1** a person from your own country; COMPATRIOT: *He was unpopular with his (fellow) countrymen.* **2** a person living in the country (=not in a town) or having country ways
**'country ˌmusic** *n* [U] COUNTRY AND WESTERN
**ˌcountry 'seat** *n* the country house of a rich landowner
**coun·try·side** /'kʌntrisaɪd/ *n* [the,U] land outside the cities and towns, used for farming or left unused; country areas: *Modern agriculture is spoiling our beautiful countryside.*
**ˌCountryside Al'liance, the** a British organization that claims to represent the interests of people who live in country areas. It was started in 1998 to oppose plans by the Government to make FOX hunting illegal. In 2002, the Countryside Alliance organized a large march through London to protest that the Government was not doing enough to improve the economic situation of people who live in the country.
**'Countryside Comˌmission, the** a British organization whose aim is to look after the countryside and prevent it being spoiled. It provides national parks, paths etc for people who want to enjoy the country.
**coun·try·wide** /'kʌntriwaɪd/ *adj, adv* happening or existing in all parts of a country $\rightarrow$ compare NATIONWIDE
**coun·ty$^1$** /'kaʊnti/ *n* **1** (in Britain) a unit of local government in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There are 46 counties in England and 6 in Wales. Each is governed by an elected group of people, a COUNTY COUNCIL, and within each county there are usually several DISTRICT COUNCILS and in some areas also PARISH COUNCILS. Northern Ireland has simply 26 district councils, and Scotland has a different system of local government. Many counties have names that end in '-shire', e.g. Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire. They each have their own character and are connected with different things in the British mind, for example Devon is connected with holidays and cream, and Kent with HOPS. $\rightarrow$ compare REGION **2** (in the US) the largest unit below the level of a state: *Orange County in California* $\rightarrow$ compare PROVINCE
**county$^2$** *adj BrE old-fash* belonging to or typical of the wealthy landowning classes in Britain
**CULTURAL NOTE** Many people think of county people as speaking with very upper-class ACCENTS and wearing clothes which are expensive and of good quality, but not fashionable or modern.
**ˌcounty 'championship, the** a British cricket competition in which teams representing English counties play against each other $\rightarrow$ see also CRICKET
**ˌcounty 'council** *n* [C+sing./pl. v] (in Britain) a body of people elected to govern a county
**ˌcounty 'court** *n* a local court of law in Britain or some US states which deals with small cases. In Britain county courts are used for CIVIL cases, not for criminal cases, but in the US they are used for both.
**ˌcounty 'cricket** *n* [U] cricket played in England between teams each representing an English county $\rightarrow$ see also CRICKET
**ˌcounty 'fair** *n AmE* a fair usually held each year in a particular county with competitions to choose the best entries in different categories, for example farm animals, sewing projects, cooking etc. County fairs also usually have musical entertainments, rides on special machines, and games of skill.
**ˌcounty 'town** *BrE* ǁ **county seat** *AmE* - *n* the town where the local government of a COUNTY is based
**coup** /kuː/ *n* **1** a clever move or action that obtains the desired result: *Getting the contract was quite a coup/a notable coup.* | *He pulled off (=made) a real coup by getting the first interview with the new minister.* **2** a coup d'état
**coup de grâce** /ˌkuː də 'ɡrɑːs/ *n* [S] *Fr* a blow or shot which kills: *to give/receive the coup de grâce* | (fig.) *The publicity caused by his connection with gangsters was the coup de grâce to his election campaign.*
**coup d'é·tat** /ˌkuː deɪ'tɑːǁ-de'tɑː/ also **coup** *n pl.* **coups d'état** (same pronunciation) a sudden violent seizing of state power by a small group that has not been elected
**cou·pé** /'kuːpeɪǁkuː'peɪ/ also **coupe** /kuːp/ *n* an enclosed car with two doors and a sloping back
**Cou·per, Heather** /'kuːpə/ (1944-) a British ASTRONOMER (=a scientist who studies the stars) who has appeared on many television and radio programmes about space and the stars. She has also written many books including *The Space Atlas and Mars: The Inside Story of the Red Planet.*
**cou·ple$^1$** /'kʌpəl/ *n* **1** [C(of)] two things related in some way; two things of the same kind: *I found a couple of socks in the bedroom but they don't make a pair.* **2** [C+sing./pl. v] two people who live or spend time together, especially a husband and wife: *young married couples* | *They're a nice couple.* **3** [S(of)] *infml* a few; several; a small number: *I'll be back in a couple of minutes.* | *I'll just have a couple of drinks.*
**USAGE** Compare **pair** and **couple**. A **pair** is a set of two things which are not usually used separately. These may be two things which are not joined together, such as **shoes** or something made in two parts, such as **trousers: a pair of socks** | **a pair of scissors**. Any two things of the same kind can be spoken of as a **couple: I saw a couple of cats in the garden.** | *Could you lend me* **a couple of pounds**? $\rightarrow$ see also PAIR (USAGE)
**couple$^2$** *v* **1** [T(TO, TOGETHER)] to join together; connect: *They coupled the carriages of the train together.* $\rightarrow$ opposite UNCOUPLE **2** [I(with)] (especially of animals) to unite sexually; MATE
**couple sthg. with sthg.** *phr v* [T usually pass.] to join (one thing or set of things) to (another): *A reputation for quality, coupled with very competitive prices, has made these cars very popular.*
**coup·let** /'kʌplət/ *n* two lines of poetry, one following the other, that are of equal length: *rhyming couplets* $\rightarrow$ compare TRIPLET; see also HEROIC COUPLET
**coup·ling** /'kʌplɪŋ/ *n* something that connects two things, especially two railway carriages
**cou·pon** /'kuːpɒnǁ-pɑːn/ *n* **1** a ticket that shows the right of the holder to receive some payment, service etc; VOUCHER: *Tear off this coupon and use it to get 25p off your next jar of coffee.* | *a 50-cents-off coupon for mayonnaise* **2** a printed form on which goods can be ordered, an ENQUIRY made, a competition entered etc: *To take advantage of our special offer, simply fill in the coupon and send it to us.*
**cour·age** /'kʌrɪdʒǁ'kɜːr-/ *n* [U] **1** the quality that makes a person able to control fear in the face of danger, pain, misfortune etc; bravery: *She showed remarkable courage when she heard the bad news.* | *a man of great courage* | *I didn't have the courage to tell him.* **2 have the courage of one's (own) convictions** to be brave enough to do or say