deus ex machina

deus ex machina

1. A god in an ancient Greek or Roman play that suddenly appears in the storyline in order to solve a problem or decide an outcome. The Latin phrase translates to "god from a machine," referring to the machinery that lowered it onto the stage. The ancient Greek play makes use of a deus ex machina in which Apollo arrives on stage to restore order among the other characters.
2. By extension, some narrative element that concludes the story or resolves a conflict in a way that seems too contrived and convenient to be believable. Suddenly, when all hope seems lost for the main characters, an alien sets down and gives them everything they need to survive. Talk about deus ex machina! Modern critics tend to pan 1980s-era television shows for the typical deus ex machina that writers often used to neatly wrap up episodes.
See also: ex
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • ex
  • God forfend
  • but for the grace of God
  • rip
  • scientia potentia est
  • rest in peace
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • a penny for them
  • lex dubia non obligat
  • great minds think alike
References in periodicals archive
Any other step or compromise that would end the colonisation of Cyprus and the irreversible conversion of northern Cyprus into a Turkish protectorate is unnecessary because the way out of this deadlock will be provided -- as in all tragedies -- by deus ex machina.
The devices of Greek tragedies will not help us
The deus ex machina is an example of technology serving culture.
Mechanical theology: ancient engineering brought gods from machines
I will propose three approaches to explore the well-timed intervention of deus ex machina in Sophocles's Philoctetes: first, how the rationale of Heracles's persuasion bolsters the thematic unity of the play; second, how Heracles's argument showcases that the new heroic paragon has much to do with collective glory as well as individual honor; third, how the concerns underlying Heracles ex machina form a coherent part of the disease theme and a working explanation for the slog of Philoctetes's suffering.
On Sophocles's Philoctetes 1409-44: Heracles ex Machina, Pathos, and Aporia
There is no Deus ex Machina, no police to step in at the end, and the only protection people have is themselves and their ability to get along with one another.
Plant life provided the seed of inspiration; DAN SMITH, a graduate of the MA creative writing course at Northumbria University, explains the inspiration for his first novel, Dry Season
We leave the romance and the cloudbursts and the deus ex machina to other companies.
Tom Hanks supports Shakespeare show
Colin and I headedmaureenio over to Deus Ex Machina.
It's animal crackers.. and animal pies for tea; GEOFF AND COLIN'S OZ-SOME ADVENTURE WEEK 5 : 15,000mile motorbike ride across Australia's Highway One
The deus ex machina of theater and film is highly relevant to Holmes: the god is an illusion, no more than a man on a rope.
Sherlock Holmes
But in Sleeping Planet I found something different, an epic drama where salvation didn't depend on high-tech lasers or death rays or even deus ex machina items like germs.
One-on-one with William R. Burkett, Jr
The entire event undoubtedly had a slight deus ex machina air about it, with Zatlers seen as an imposing figure at the right hand of Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, calling out for concrete deadlines for concrete tasks.
Time for new leadership
Does the deus ex machina idea of multi-verses merit the term "scientific"?
Cosmic Fictionalization?
The star, however, is the unassuming Jeff Clarke, a deus ex machina as deviser, stage director and musical director.
This human comedy is seriously satisfying; Review
They met at Deus Ex Machina in Parramatta Rd, Camperdown, with Bloom riding there on his new customised road bike turned hill climber, the Deus SR400, which cost him 20,000 dollars, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom check out motorbikes in Sydney