Originally a “show-stopper” (now often spelled without the hyphen as one or two words) was a sensational musical number which created so much applause that the show had to be temporarily halted. By extension, anything making a sensationally positive impact could be called “show-stopping.”
How do you use show stopper?
Examples of show-stopper
- It is hard to think of a report which could be more of a show-stopper. ...
- That report is a show-stopper. ...
- This debate is a show-stopper. ...
- I never quite found out what a show-stopper report was, but if you read the conclusions of this committee, it reads to me like a show-stopper report.
What does not a show stopper mean?
noun. informal. a stage act, etc, that receives so much applause as to interrupt the performance.
