showstopper

showstopper

See also: show-stopper and show stopper

English

Alternative forms

• show-stopper, show stopper

Etymology

show +‎ stopper

Noun

showstopper (plural showstoppers)

1. A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive audience reaction strong enough to pause the production.
2. Any impediment that prevents all further progress; especially a software bug that must be fixed before any further development is possible.

Usage notes

Ambiguous connotation, depending on context: very good or very bad.

Translations

(in theatrical production)

Dutch: succesnummer (nl) n

Italian: strappa applausi m, gran numero, uno schianto, numero eccezionale m, esibizione fantastica f, applausi a scena aperta m pl

impediment to progress

Italian: intoppo (it) m, ostacolo (it) m, falla (it) f, impedimento (it) m

See also

• deal breaker