coup de thé·â·tre (ko?o? d? t?-ä?tr?)n. pl. coups de théâtre (ko?o?) 1. A sudden dramatic turn of events in a play.2. An unexpected and sensational event, especially one that reverses or negates a prevailing situation.[French : coup, stroke + de, of + théâtre, theater.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.coup de théâtre (ku d? te?tr?) n, pl coups de théâtre (ku d? te?tr?) 1. (Theatre) a dramatic turn of events, esp in a play2. (Theatre) a sensational device of stagecraft3. (Theatre) a stage success[literally: stroke of the theatre]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014coup de thé?â?tre (kud? te??? tr?) n., pl. coups de thé?â?tre (kud? te??? tr?) French. 1. a surprising or sensational turn of events in a play. 2. any theatrical trick intended to have a sensational effect. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.