stage whisper

American  

noun

1. a loud whisper on a stage, meant to be heard by the audience.

2. any whisper loud enough to be overheard.

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stage whisper British  

noun

1. a loud whisper from one actor to another onstage intended to be heard by the audience

2. any loud whisper that is intended to be overheard

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stage whisper Idioms  

1. A whisper loud enough to be overheard, as in Our three-year-old behaved beautifully at the ceremony, but then he asked in a stage whisper, “Why does that lady have blue hair?” This expression alludes to an actor's whisper on stage, which is meant to be heard by the audience. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of stage whisper

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

And she said” — his voice dropped to a stage whisper — “‘He’s going to be very big.’”

From New York Times • Dec. 11, 2022

“Perhaps,” Rushdie writes in his loudest stage whisper, “this bizarre story was a metamorphosed version of his own.”

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2019

Because I can’t say,” she starts to stage whisper, “‘I’m actually an aac-tresss,’” and then cracks up laughing.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2018

Maul also took advantage of a particularly Tinseltown-esque fringe benefit: Universal Studios Hollywood employees can take free acting classes only a stage whisper away from the famous Universal Studios back lot.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2018

Mae put her hand near her mouth and said, in a stage whisper, “Willodeen doesn’t believe in magic.”

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate