chef-d'oeuvre
Americannoun
plural
chefs-d'oeuvrenoun
Etymology
Origin of chef-d'oeuvre
Borrowed into English from French around 1610–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Thirty-five years after "Die Hard" hit theaters, the Bruce Willis vehicle maintains its rep as a chef-d'oeuvre due to its perennial relevance.
From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023
Frears’ chef-d’oeuvre has everything: accessibly rooted in a true story, it has a powerful but controlled display of emotions, is tempered with poignancy and wit, and has great performances from stars and supporting cast.
From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2020
UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance is presenting Mac's chef-d'oeuvre, "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music," in a four-show series at the Theatre at Ace Hotel beginning Thursday.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2018
Far be it from me to suggest that the great David Mamet was looking over the shoulders of the great Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland when they composed their latest chef-d’oeuvre.
From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2015
The "Lady in white" is the chef-d'oeuvre of all comic operas in French, as Mozart's Figaro is in German.
From The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas by Annesley, Charles, pseud.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
