dress rehearsal

American  

noun

1. a rehearsal of a play or other performance in costume and with scenery, properties, and lights arranged and operated as for a performance: often the final rehearsal.

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dress rehearsal British  

noun

1. the last complete rehearsal of a play or other work, using costumes, scenery, lighting, etc, as for the first night

2. any full-scale practice

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Etymology

Origin of dress rehearsal

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Recognized for their hypnotic choreography, playful lyricism and fervent energy, the “Gnarly” singers went all out for dress rehearsal — involving an army of backup dancers and repeated blasts of confetti.

From Los Angeles Times

At a dress rehearsal the night before, Rev Poots told her mother that he could drive her home after the performance to save her the journey.

From BBC

A previous dress rehearsal highlighted the need for a new traffic light at a specific location to alleviate gridlock when military convoys move across the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Herculean task of singing five performances and a dress rehearsal of this demanding opera over six days could easily result in mass vocal destruction without the aid of microphones.

From Los Angeles Times

A Marine spokesperson later said it was part of a dress rehearsal.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dry run
• rehearsal