coup de theatre
- noun
- /kuː də ˈteɪ.ə.trə/
- Literature
:
coup de théâtre
- The playwright's sudden choice to kill off the main character was a dramatic coup de theatre that transformed the narrative.
Examples
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An incident which takes place in action and which suddenly changes the characters' situation is a coup de theatre.
Academic text (1996) -
In the final act, the unexpected return of the long-lost character was a coup de theatre that left the audience gasping.
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Osterud goes on to write that if we read Gengangere "along these lines," i.e., as a tragedy in which Osvald's disease is a modern version of fate, then his "collapse can be viewed as an ultimate change, a coup de theatre," and,
Academic text (1997) -
Everyone was surprised when the villain revealed his true identity in a stunning coup de theatre during the climax of the play.
Synonyms
35
4.1
A sudden change in a situation that makes plans or results different
A sudden dramatic twist in a play or story that surprises the audience
Antonyms
How Dramatic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'coup' (an impressive or sudden act) + 'de' (of) + 'theatre' (theatrical performance), so a B1 learner who knows those constituents can infer 'an impressive or unexpected theatrical turn' that surprises the audience. Although it is a French loan expression, the literal parts map directly onto the intended sense and similar constructions occur cross-linguistically, making the meaning readily derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Coup de theatre is a French phrase that paints the image of a sudden dramatic action on stage, like a surprising entrance or a quick confession that makes the audience gasp. That's why it now means 'an unexpected and dramatic turn of events' in a play or story.