pièce de résistance
Americannoun
-
the principal dish of a meal.
-
the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
noun
-
the principal or most outstanding item in a series or creative artist's work
-
the main dish of a meal
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pièce de résistance
First recorded in 1780–90; from French: literally, “piece of resistance”; development of senses is unclear
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.
However, the pièce de résistance of the lounge is an outdoor patio at the very back of the space.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2024
If you want to buy a Birkin bag, the pièce de résistance from the French luxury retailer Hermès, you should know that you probably can’t.
From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2024
I can’t remember what inspired me to choose caramel as the pièce de résistance, but I am so glad that’s where we landed.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 1, 2023
Hence, the hour's pièce de résistance: Cameron, with an expert's guidance, subjects two Jack and Rose stand-ins named Josh Bird and Kristine Zipfel to conditions that induce the start of hypothermia.
From Salon • Feb. 5, 2023
That was to be followed by a humorous recitation of my own: "Gregory Sonkolyi"; then came an exhibition of legerdemain by Muki Bagotay; and last of all, as pièce de résistance, Bessy's fiddling.
From Eyes Like the Sea by Jókai, Mór
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.
