pièce de résistance

• piece de resistance (more common)

Borrowed from French pièce de résistance; the first use of this phrase in English appears in 1789 in Richard Cumberland's novel Arundel.

• IPA^(key): /piˈɛs də ɹəˈzɪs.tɑ̃s/

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pièce de résistance (plural pièces de résistance)

1. A masterpiece; the most memorable accomplishment of one’s career or lifetime.

   Synonyms: magnum opus, masterpiece

2. The chief dish at a dinner. [from late 18th c.]
   • 2023, C Pam Zhang, Land of Milk and Honey, Hutchinson Heinemann, page 30:

     Our pièce de résistance was a traditional preparation of poularde de Bresse en vessie: an entire chicken, stuffed with truffles and foie, steamed inside an inflated pig’s bladder in a bath of liquor and still more truffles.

Borrowed from French pièce de résistance.

pièce de résistance n (plural pièces de résistance)

1. masterwork, masterpiece
2. the best achievement of an author or artist, representing their major life effort
3. main course of a meal

• magnum opus

Literally, “piece which has staying power”. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “How old is this phrase?”) Cp. keystone

• IPA^(key): /pjɛs də ʁe.zis.tɑ̃s/

• Audio (France):

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pièce de résistance f (plural pièces de résistance)

1. (idiomatic) the finest part of something, especially a meal

• plat de résistance

• → Dutch: pièce de résistance
• → English: pièce de résistance
• → German: Pièce de résistance
• → Romanian: piesă de rezistență (calque)