set piece

noun

plural set pieces

1

a

: a composition (as in literature, art, or music) executed in a fixed or ideal form often with studied artistry and brilliant effect

b

: a scene, depiction, speech, or event that is obviously designed to have an imposing effect

2

: a realistic piece of stage scenery standing by itself

3

: a precisely planned and conducted military operation

an offensive set piece that caught the enemy off guard

4

sports : a carefully planned sequence of movements performed by the members of a team (as in soccer)

A set piece can be used on either a direct or indirect type of [free] kick, providing one of the few times during the game that a team can execute something that it may have spent hours practicing.

—Doug Roberson

set-piece

ˈset-ˌpēs 

adjective

Example Sentences

a movie with some lovely set pieces

She scored with a set piece.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the film’s most remarkable set piece, shot in the town hall in a single, 17-minute take, all of the community’s festering rages and resentments come through. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Apr. 2023

What was the most daunting set piece? —Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Mar. 2023

In one dramatic set piece, apparently based on true events, an infamous bandit repents before the archbishop of Milan. —Sam Sacks, WSJ, 23 Sep. 2022

In the end, the movie also functions as a nostalgic set piece. —Meg Jacobs, CNN, 11 Apr. 2023

After the Shazam squad nonchalantly saves dozens of people from the collapsing Benjamin Franklin Bridge (the movie’s standout set piece, and an endorsement for a bipartisan infrastructure bill if there ever was one), the members of Billy’s team start losing their powers. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2023

Here, the film comes alive beyond its knowing satire; Baumbach wisely makes the ensuing terror a massive, nearly hour-long set piece—by far his loftiest thrill ride yet. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2022

Glastonbury’s score also came from a set piece, as a corner kick was at first deflected out of the box, but fell to the feet of senior defender Anna Shaheen, who sent it into the bottom corner of the goal. —Steve Smith, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2022

And that was a big set piece…quite literally! —Nojan Aminosharei, Men's Health, 24 June 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1a