pièce de résistance
the pièce de résistance
1. The most outstanding, remarkable, or prized achievement, accomplishment, aspect, event, etc., in a given series or group. Mr. Reynolds has an impressive gallery, but I'm told that his latest sculpture will be the pièce de résistance.
2. The principal or featured dish in a meal; the entrée. And now for the pièce de résistance—paupiettes of black sole, served with asparagus spears and a rich consommé.
See also: DE, piece, resistance
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
your/the ˌpièce de réˈsistance
(from French) the most important or impressive part of a group or series of things: I hope you all enjoyed your main course. And now for my pièce de résistance: chocolate gateau!See also: DE, piece, resistance
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
pièce de résistance
The most notable or most highly prized feature of a group or series; the star attraction. Originally, from the 1790s or so, this French term always referred to a meal’s greatest delicacy (an appropriate matter of concern to French palates). By the mid-nineteenth century the term had been transferred to other outstanding items, at least in English. Thackeray, in an essay (1840) about art, stated: “To supply the picture lover with the pièces de résistance of the feast.”
See also: DE, piece, resistance
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- the pièce de résistance
- your/the pièce de résistance
- the jewel in (someone's or something's) crown
- the jewel in someone's/something's crown
- down to (someone or something)
- down to somebody/something
- steal (one's) thunder
- steal somebody's thunder
- steal someone's thunder
- steal thunder