Main Entry: coup de thé·âtre

Variant(s): or coup de the·atre \ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätr^ə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural coups de théâtre or coups de theatre \ˌkü-də-\

Etymology: French coup de théâtre, literally, stroke of theater

Date: 1747

1 : a sudden sensational turn in a play; also : a sudden dramatic effect or turn of events
2 : a theatrical success