coup de theatre
Preserved but no longer current.
An unforeseen or un- expected turn in a drama producing a sensa- tional effect; a piece of clap-trap, something planned for effect. Burke throwing down the dagger in the House of Commons (see DAGGER SCENE) intended a coup de theatre.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “coup de theatre” mean?
An unforeseen or un- expected turn in a drama producing a sensa- tional effect; a piece of clap-trap, something planned for effect. Burke throwing down the dagger in the House of Commons (see DAGGER SCENE) intended a coup de theatre.
Is “coup de theatre” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.