coup de théâtre

coup de thé·âtre

noun \ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätr^ə\

plural coups de théâtre or coups de theatre\ˌkü-də-\

Definition of COUP DE THÉÂTRE

1

: a sudden sensational turn in a play; also : a sudden dramatic effect or turn of events

2

: a theatrical success

Variants of COUP DE THÉÂTRE

coup de thé·âtre or coup de the·atre \ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätr^ə\

Origin of COUP DE THÉÂTRE

French coup de théâtre, literally, stroke of theater

First Known Use: 1747