Variant: or coup de the · atre
Pronunciation: ˌ kü-d ə -t ā - ' ätr ə
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural coups de théâtre or coups de theatre \ ˌ kü-d ə - \
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