stop the show

stop the show

To give a very exceptional, impressive, or memorable performance. Yeah, the opening act really stopped the show—the headlining band was disappointing in comparison! All the pieces in the designer's collection are excellent, but it's the wedding dress that's going to stop the show.
See also: show, stop
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

stop the show

COMMON If someone stops the show, they give an extremely impressive performance in a show or other event. Twelve-year-old Reggie Jackson stopped the show last night with `America the Beautiful'. Note: You can describe an impressive person, performance, or thing as show-stopping or say that they are a show-stopper. She got a standing ovation for her show-stopping number `And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going'. Her first encore was a real show-stopper.
See also: show, stop
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

stop the show

(of a performer) provoke prolonged applause or laughter, causing an interruption.
See also: show, stop
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • show-stopper
  • stellar
  • be not much cop
  • not much cop
  • stand (one) for (something)
  • stand for
  • the boy next door
  • the girl/boy next door
  • ten out of ten
  • a real doozy
References in periodicals archive
Producers had to stop the show's recording twice to ask the audience to calm down.
There are times we must stop the show and show ourselves a little kindness instead.
in March, SABOS will be producing Stop the Show featuring songs from a number of musicals including Calamity Jane, The Sound of Music,The King and I, Chicago, Billy Elliot , Matilda and more.
they've had to temporarily stop the show because of the fireworks ...) thanks to the team for extinguishing."
while Hannah Burke joked: "At bruno mars in Glasgow and they've had to stop the show because the fireworks set fire to the lights on stage.
Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford did not shy away from addressing the elephants in the room -- Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo -- Thursday at the Sundance Film Festival, saying that the fallen executive is not "going to stop the show."
Because this was clearly a medical emergency, we had no choice but to stop the show, and ask the crowd if there was a doctor in the house.
I'm not resting on my laurels." The comedian and broadcaster also said he edits out bad or controversial jokes - to stop the show from getting in trouble.
"No, we were unable to stop the show. It's not a fast process.
He refused to stop the show and finished the concert siting in a chair on the stage.
The singer was shaken, but determined to not let the unfortunate incident stop the show, and even tweeted later, "Dubai.
But still, there were some fans that understood why Kanye had to stop the show. "So many people @kanyewest stopped his show but people have to understand he lost his voice and he's a perfectionist when it comes to shows."
He abruptly stopped his set, in the middle of his song Heartless, and told the crowd: "I'm sorry, family emergency, I have to stop the show."
The Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, has asked the South Australian Premier to stop the show. He also sent a pastoral letter to all Catholic churches in the diocese encouraging Catholics to complain to the appropriate authorities.
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