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stage wait

American  

noun

Theater.

  1. an unintentional pause during a performance, usually caused by a performer's or stagehand's missing a cue.

Etymology

Origin of stage wait

First recorded in 1860–65

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.

A related fault which interferes with suspense is the “stage wait” treated on page 209.

From Project Gutenberg

The act being called, each actor was required to be at his entrance on time; if he should be late and make a "stage wait," the stage manager might reprimand him, and impose a fine.

From Project Gutenberg

One night during the performance there was a stage wait.

From Project Gutenberg

"Now you'd better go on or there'll be a stage wait, and get back to ma as quick as you like."

From Project Gutenberg

“A stage wait, in fact,” put in Clancy, sarcastically.

From Project Gutenberg

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.