coup de théâtre
a surprising or unexpected turn of events in a play.
a sensational and unexpected turn in the plot of a drama.
any theatrical trick intended to have a sensational effect.
Words Nearby coup de théâtre
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use coup de théâtre in a sentence
It did so with jet planes, pulling off a coup de theatre it has never since repeated or matched on the American homeland.
But for effect—to produce a striking coup de theatre—we could not have come more opportunely.
Bardelys the Magnificent | Rafael SabatiniThat surprise was due to the sly craft of Ambroise, who merrily explained how he had prepared it like a masterly coup de theatre.
Fruitfulness | Emile ZolaI cried, as vexed as an author for whom some one has spoiled the effect of a coup de theatre.
Sarrasine | Honore de BalzacOn the fourth of July, the day Congress met, the government made use of a coup de theatre.
Lincoln | Nathaniel Wright Stephenson
British Dictionary definitions for coup de théâtre
/ French (ku də teɑtrə) /
a dramatic turn of events, esp in a play
a sensational device of stagecraft
a stage success
Origin of coup de théâtre
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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