coup de théâtre

noun

coup de thé·​âtre ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätrᵊ 

variants or coup de theatre

plural coups de théâtre or coups de theatre ˌkü-də-tā-ˈätrᵊ 

1

: a sudden sensational turn in a play

also : a sudden dramatic effect or turn of events

2

: a theatrical success

Word History

Etymology

French coup de théâtre, literally, stroke of theater

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1