cliffhanger

Học thuật
Thân thiện
cliffhanger

The television episode ends with a dramatic cliffhanger.

Definition

Noun: 1. A situation or episode, especially in a serialized story, that ends at a moment of intense suspense or uncertainty, leaving the audience eager to know what happens next. 2. A contest or competition whose outcome remains uncertain until the very last moment.

Usage

Cliffhanger is used to describe a narrative technique or a real-life event characterized by a highly suspenseful, unresolved ending. It is common in television series, films, novels, and sports.

Examples

  1. As a narrative device:

    • The season finale was a real cliffhanger; we still don't know if the hero survived the explosion.
    • The author loves to end each chapter with a cliffhanger to keep readers turning the pages.
    • The movie's cliffhanger ending has sparked endless fan theories online.

  2. Describing a close competition:

    • The championship game was a total cliffhanger, with the winning goal scored in the final seconds.
    • The election turned into a cliffhanger, with the results too close to call for hours.
Advanced Usage
  • To end on a cliffhanger: To conclude a story or episode at a point of high suspense.
    • The showrunner decided to end the season on a major cliffhanger to guarantee viewers would return.
  • Cliffhanger ending: A specific term for an unresolved, suspenseful conclusion.
    • Fans were frustrated by the film's cliffhanger ending, demanding a sequel.
Variants and Related Words
  • Cliffhanging (adjective): Characterized by or causing suspense.
    • The novel provides a cliffhanging reading experience.
Synonyms
  • Suspense (noun): A state of mental uncertainty and excitement.
  • Nail-biter (noun, informal): An event or situation causing great tension or anxiety.
  • Thriller (noun): A genre of fiction designed to provoke excitement and suspense.
Idioms and Phrases
  • To leave someone hanging / in suspense: To not provide someone with information they are waiting for, creating a sense of uncertainty. (This is a related concept, though not an idiom using the word "cliffhanger" itself).
    • Don't leave me hanging! Tell me what happened after the cliffhanger!
cliffhanger

The television episode ends with a dramatic cliffhanger.

Noun
  1. an episode that ends in suspense
  2. a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end