trick ending

American  

noun

1. an ending of a story or play, etc., that employs a surprise element or character to resolve the plot.

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Example Sentences

If the pandemic had a musical score, that trick ending might be a caesura, shown by two parallel diagonal lines: railroad tracks, only we ran out of rail.

From The Guardian • Jul. 5, 2020

Yet, for all its high spirits and rowdy humor, it packs a trick ending that slams home the filmmakers’ sombre political point—and then another that turns it comedic again.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 14, 2018

That sobering prediction did the trick, ending the alliance’s six-month hiatus.

From Salon • Jul. 16, 2017

Poor Charlie always falls for the trick, ending up on his backside.

From MSNBC • Sep. 4, 2014

In addition to these mystery acts, and some more ordinary sleight-of-hand tricks which he used to fill in with, Joe did his fire-eating trick, ending that act with the plunge into the tank.

From Joe Strong the Boy Fire-Eater The Most Dangerous Performance on Record by Barnum, Vance