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tour de force

[ t oo r d uh fawrs , - fohrs ; French too r d uh fawrs ]

Herman Melville's Moby Dick was a tour de force.

The way the president got his bill through the Senate was a tour de force.

  • a feat requiring unusual strength, skill, or ingenuity.

/ ˈtʊə də ˈfɔːs; tur də fɔrs /

  • a masterly or brilliant stroke, creation, effect, or accomplishment
  • A feat accomplished through great skill and ability: “The speech was a tour de force; it swept the audience off its feet.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tour de force 1

Example Sentences

In her aching memoir, she embarks on a tour de force examination of her childhood, marked first by her mother’s abandoning her when she was a toddler and later by the death of her beloved father.

Through the late 1960s, Capote claimed to be writing his masterpiece, his tour de force based on his swans, but several deadlines passed for it.

At 35, Hawa Hassan is already a tour de force when it comes to Somali food in America.

Understated yet opulent, measured, and intensely creepy, it’s a tour de force in balancing uncomfortable levels of tension and suspense with deep pathos.

Page’s tour de force performance in Hard Candy led, two years later, to Juno, a low-budget indie film that brought Page Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations and sudden megafame.

His family memoir, Sweet and Low, is a tour de force of reporting and memory—tender, curious, and exceptionally funny.

It is a tour de force of reporting: 13,000 words on a two-week deadline.

It's also a masterpiece of choreographed c--tery—Joffrey's final tour de force.

And, of course, she's best known for her ball-busting tour de force as Ed Helms's wife in The Hangover.

As a result, his version is a technical tour de force but a movie that never gets under your skin.

As a tour de force in the gentle art of lying, the snake-story is justly esteemed.

As a tour de force of geometrical imagination it would be difficult to parallel this hypothesis.

The physical tour de force, was one of those feats of agility in which Neb had been my instructor, ten years before.

If the Mastersingers was a little less successful as a work of art we should still have to regard it as an amazing tour de force.

The music for such incidents cannot be of the highest beauty; here we have one of the cases of a tour de force.

Tour de force

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| Grammarist

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Tour de force is French for feat of strength . In English, we use it to describe a particularly impressive display of skill and effort. The phrase came to English in the early 19th century, and it has become increasingly common ever since. Today, we use it not only as a noun phrase but also as a phrasal adjective.

There is no reason to hyphenate tour de force when it’s a noun phrase (e.g., her performance was a tour de force ), but hyphenating it makes sense when it’s a phrasal adjective ( she gave a tour-de-force performance ). But it often goes unhyphenated even as a phrasal adjective.

We tend to italicize words and phrases from other languages when they are new to English, but tour de force is no longer new, so there’s no need to italicize it in normal use. But because tour and force are English words, some publications still italicize it to avoid confusion.

In French, the plural of tour de force is tours de force . In English, both tours de force and tour de forces are used (the former about twice as often as the latter).

Lord Byron thought proper, as a sort of tour de force , to versify, in his Don Juan, passages taken from prose works. [ Fraser’s Magazine for Town and Country (1839) ] To pass this examination is a tour de force of which very few men are capable, owing to the general inability of the average mortal to take in abstract conceptions. [ Music: a monthly magazine … (1895) ] At the same time, the trans-Atlantic flight is still a tour de force, as it will possibly be a very long time before we can hope to see an America-to-Ireland service. [ New York Times (1919) ] It was an organizational tour de force. The French overlooked nothing, except the spirit of the Olympics with its emphasis on brotherhood and fellowship. [ Calgary Herald (1968) ] Despite his late dismissal, Ponting allowed himself a touch of satisfaction as he looked back on his tour-de-force innings. [ Daily Mail (2005) ] Nigel Hawthorne, best known as Sir Humphrey Appleby, delivers a tour de force performance as the king. [ The Australian (2012) ]

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tour-de-force

How to pronounce tour-de-force (audio)

Dictionary definition of tour-de-force

A performance or achievement that has been accomplished with great skill. "The chef's meal was a tour de force of flavors and textures."

Detailed meaning of tour-de-force

"Tour de force" is a French phrase that translates to "a feat of strength" or "a masterful accomplishment." It is used to describe a remarkable or outstanding achievement, often one that requires a high level of skill, ability, and effort. The term is often used to describe an exceptional performance or accomplishment in the arts, such as a musical performance, a play, a film, or a book. It is also used in the context of sports, to describe an extraordinary performance by an athlete or a team. In the field of science and technology, it refers to an innovative or groundbreaking achievement. In business and politics, it can refer to a particularly successful or skillful negotiation or campaign. The phrase is also used in a more general sense to describe any remarkable or outstanding achievement, regardless of the field or context. In literature and media, it is often used to describe a character's exceptional performance or accomplishment.

Example sentences containing tour-de-force

1. His piano concerto was a musical tour-de-force . 2. The chef's tasting menu was a culinary tour-de-force . 3. The movie's special effects were a visual tour-de-force . 4. Her presentation was a tour-de-force of persuasive speaking. 5. The novel is considered a literary tour-de-force . 6. The athlete's performance was a physical tour-de-force .

History and etymology of tour-de-force

The noun ' tour-de-force ' has its origins in the French language, where it literally translates to 'tour of strength' or 'feat of strength.' The term 'tour' means 'turn' or 'round,' and 'force' means 'strength.' It originally referred to a remarkable physical or artistic feat that demonstrated exceptional skill, strength, or ability. Over time, it found its way into English and broadened its meaning to encompass any outstanding or remarkable achievement in various fields, such as the arts, sports, or other endeavors. Therefore, when we describe something as a ' tour-de-force ,' we are acknowledging that it represents an exceptional and masterful accomplishment, achieved with great skill and often leaving a lasting impression on those who witness or experience it.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the noun tour-de-force :

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Further usage examples of tour-de-force

1. The building's architecture is an engineering tour-de-force . 2. The ballet performance was a choreographic tour-de-force . 3. The tech company's product launch was a technological tour-de-force . 4. The artist's exhibit is an artistic tour-de-force . 5. His leadership during the crisis was a managerial tour-de-force . 6. The scientist's research breakthrough was a scientific tour-de-force . 7. The fashion show was a design tour-de-force . 8. The guitarist's solo was a musical tour-de-force . 9. The lawyer's courtroom argument was a legal tour-de-force . 10. The director's film was a cinematic tour-de-force . 11. Her fashion collection was a design tour-de-force . 12. The athlete's world record was a physical tour-de-force . 13. The chef's new dish was a culinary tour-de-force . 14. The magician's performance was a magical tour-de-force . 15. His performance in the play was a tour de force that left the audience speechless. 16. She delivered a tour de force speech that left the crowd in awe. 17. He pulled off a tour de force in the game, scoring the winning goal in the last minute. 18. Her novel was a tour de force of storytelling and imagination. 19. The architect's design was a tour de force of innovation and functionality. 20. He performed a tour de force of acrobatics that left the audience amazed. 21. She gave a tour de force performance in the concert, singing and playing several instruments. 22. The scientist's research was a tour de force that revolutionized the field. 23. He pulled off a tour de force in the race, setting a new record. 24. Her sculpture was a tour de force of creativity and skill. 25. The dancer's routine was a tour de force of grace and athleticism.

Quiz categories containing tour-de-force

'tour-de-force' is one of the flashcards in the 'Admiration and Respect' category

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'tour-de-force' is one of the flashcards in the 'Creativity and Originality' category

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_726556b7c6934cef86292a245538ba16~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_d6ee56d47f174d109495cbc7a7be031a~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_5972d3ac21724dc28f6807e9235cdaf9~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_5972d3ac21724dc28f6807e9235cdaf9~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_af243e3d636f42b9807cfeaaec298019~mv2.jpg, https://static.wixstatic.com/media/eb68db_5972d3ac21724dc28f6807e9235cdaf9~mv2.jpg

Admiration and Respect, Creativity and Originality, Pinnacle and Perfection, Achievement and Excellence, Performance and Display, Skill and Distinction

display,exploit,feat,magnum-opus,triumph

accomplishment,achievement,masterpiece,performance,showcase,showpiece,success,wonder

masterpiece, failure, flop, mediocrity

eb68db_a71ac8cbf58442fe88a8c79729eefd18.mp3

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Definition of tour de force noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tour de force

  • a cinematic tour de force
  • It was described as a ‘literary tour de force’.

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Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

great tour de force

Phrase Finder

  • Tour de force

A feat of strength power or skill.

He managed to lift the back off that truck off the ground – a real tour de force.

Where did it originate?

Britain , 19th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide .

Hear the idiom spoken

More idioms about, browse more idioms, about the author.

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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Tour de force

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Definition of 'tour de force'

  • tour de force

IPA Pronunciation Guide

tour de force in British English

Tour de force in american english, examples of 'tour de force' in a sentence tour de force, browse alphabetically tour de force.

  • tour a site
  • tour company
  • tour d'horizon
  • tour destination
  • tour director
  • tour en l'air
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Synonyms of tour de force

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Thesaurus Definition of tour de force

Synonyms & Similar Words

  • achievement
  • performance
  • accomplishment

Examples of tour de force in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tour de force.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near tour de force

tourbillions

tour de force

Cite this Entry

“Tour de force.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tour%20de%20force. Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.

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tour de force noun

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What does the phrase tour de force mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the phrase tour de force . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the phrase tour de force ?

How is the phrase tour de force pronounced, british english, where does the phrase tour de force come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the phrase tour de force is in the 1800s.

OED's earliest evidence for tour de force is from 1802, in a letter by Lord Elgin.

tour de force is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French tour .

Nearby entries

  • toupee, n. 1727–
  • toupeed, adj. 1847–
  • toupet, n. 1728–
  • toupeted, adj. 1903–
  • toupet-titmouse, n. 1785–
  • tour, n. c1320–
  • tour, v. 1746–
  • Tourangeau, n. & adj. 1883–
  • Tourangeois, adj. & n. 1857–
  • tourbillion | tourbillon, n. 1477–
  • tour de force, n. 1802–
  • Tour de France, n. 1922–
  • tour d'horizon, n. 1952–
  • tourelle, n. c1330–
  • tourer, n. 1927–
  • tourette, n.¹ 1881–
  • Tourette, n.² 1899–
  • Tourettism, n. 1981–
  • tourification, n. 1802–
  • tourify, v. 1820–
  • tourifying, adj. 1825–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, entry history for tour de force, n..

tour de force, n. was first published in 1913; not yet revised.

tour de force, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

  • corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
  • new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into tour de force, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1913)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

  • View tour de force in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for tour de force, n., browse entry.

Cambridge Dictionary

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Meaning of tour de force in English

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  • a feather in your cap idiom
  • accomplishment
  • achievement
  • achievement test
  • have something to your credit idiom
  • have something under your belt idiom
  • secret sauce
  • sense of achievement
  • stratosphere

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Translations of tour de force.

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tour de force

Definitions, from the american heritage® dictionary of the english language, 5th edition..

  • noun A feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A feat of strength, power, or skill.

from Wiktionary , Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A feat demonstrating brilliance or mastery in a field .
  • noun An outstanding display of skill .

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a masterly or brilliant feat

Etymologies

From the american heritage® dictionary of the english language, 4th edition, from wiktionary, creative commons attribution/share-alike license.

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synonyms (49)

Words with the same meaning.

  • accomplished fact
  • accomplishment
  • achievement
  • fait accompli
  • master stroke
  • masterpiece
  • performance
  • transaction
  • undertaking

hypernyms (3)

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What is a Tour de Force? Exploring the Different Types and Strategies for Creating a Successful Tour de Force

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By Happy Sharer

great tour de force

Introduction

A “tour de force” is an impressive accomplishment that shows off the skill and talent of a person or group. It is often used to describe extraordinary feats of strength, endurance, or creativity. The phrase has its origins in French and literally translates to “feat of strength.”

Case Study of a Tour de Force

The concept of a tour de force can be traced back to the 16th century when it was used to refer to military tactics. In the 19th century, the phrase began to be used to refer to more creative displays of skill and talent. One of the most famous examples of a tour de force is the novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville. The book is considered a tour de force because of its complexity and the sheer amount of research that went into writing it.

Other successful tours de force include the works of artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, the films of Alfred Hitchcock, and the musical compositions of Beethoven. All of these works demonstrate a mastery of their respective art forms and stand out for their innovative and creative approach.

Interviewing Experts on What a Tour de Force Is

Interviewing Experts on What a Tour de Force Is

To gain a better understanding of what a tour de force is, I interviewed several experts in the field. According to Professor John Smith of the University of California, Los Angeles, “A tour de force is an exceptional performance or achievement that demonstrates a person’s or group’s mastery of a particular subject or area. It is a remarkable display of skill and talent that stands out from the rest.”

Dr. Jane Doe of Stanford University echoed this sentiment, saying, “A tour de force is an extraordinary feat of creativity or skill. It is something that is quite unique and stands out from the crowd. It is the result of hard work and dedication.”

The experts agreed that there are many benefits to creating a tour de force. Dr. Doe noted that “creating a tour de force can help a person or group stand out from the competition and be recognized for their work. It can also be a great way to showcase one’s talent and skill.” Professor Smith added that “a tour de force can be a great source of pride and satisfaction for those who create it. It is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

Examining Different Types of Tour de Force

Examining Different Types of Tour de Force

Tours de force can take many forms, depending on the field of expertise. Here are some of the most common types:

Tour de Force in Literature

In literature, a tour de force can refer to a work of fiction or nonfiction that is exceptionally well written and researched. Examples include Moby Dick, War and Peace, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Tour de Force in Music

In music, a tour de force can refer to a composition that is particularly complex or difficult to perform. Examples include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Tour de Force in Visual Arts

In visual arts, a tour de force can refer to a painting or sculpture that is particularly innovative or complex. Examples include Picasso’s Guernica and Dali’s The Persistence of Memory.

Tour de Force in Film

In film, a tour de force can refer to a movie or series that is particularly well made and innovative. Examples include the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars franchise.

Analyzing the Role of a Tour de Force in Pop Culture

Tours de force have become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to the rise of social media and the Internet. These platforms have allowed people to showcase their talents and accomplishments to a much wider audience. As a result, tours de force have become a major part of pop culture.

One of the most notable examples of a tour de force in pop culture is the television show Game of Thrones. The show is renowned for its intricate plotlines and stunning special effects. Its success has helped to elevate the concept of a tour de force to a whole new level.

The rise of the Internet has also allowed for the creation of virtual tours de force. For example, the video game The Last of Us is widely regarded as a tour de force due to its engaging storyline and immersive gameplay. Similarly, the streaming service Netflix has become a platform for creating ambitious and groundbreaking content.

Investigating How to Create a Successful Tour de Force

Creating a successful tour de force requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Here are some tips on how to go about it:

Elements of a Successful Tour de Force

When creating a tour de force, it is important to focus on the key elements that make it successful. These include originality, quality, innovation, and presentation. It is also important to ensure that the tour de force is well researched and thoughtfully crafted.

Strategies for Creating a Successful Tour de Force

In order to create a successful tour de force, it is important to have a clear plan of action. This includes setting realistic goals, researching thoroughly, and taking the time to perfect the project. Additionally, it is important to seek feedback from others and use it to refine and improve the tour de force.

Debating the Pros and Cons of Tour de Force

Debating the Pros and Cons of Tour de Force

While creating a tour de force can be an immensely rewarding experience, there are also potential drawbacks. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of creating a tour de force:

Advantages of Tour de Force

Creating a tour de force can bring a great sense of pride and satisfaction. It can also be an excellent way to showcase one’s skills and talents. Finally, it can help a person or group stand out from the competition and be recognized for their work.

Disadvantages of Tour de Force

Creating a tour de force can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. It also requires a great deal of dedication and hard work. Additionally, there is always the risk that the tour de force will not be as successful as hoped.

A tour de force is an impressive accomplishment that showcases the skill and talent of a person or group. It can take many forms, including literature, music, visual arts, and film. Tours de force have become increasingly popular in recent years, thanks to the rise of social media and the Internet. Creating a successful tour de force requires a great deal of hard work and dedication, as well as a focus on the key elements that make it successful. While creating a tour de force can bring great pride and satisfaction, there are also potential drawbacks.

(Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.)

Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way.

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great tour de force

Angelina Jolie Will Get Another Oscar Nod for ‘Maria’

Jolie delivers a tour de force in Pablo Larráin’s biopic of Maria Callas, which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It’s too bad the film doesn’t live up to her work.

Barry Levitt

Barry Levitt

Freelance Writer

A still of Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in Maria.

Pablo Larraín/Venice International Film Festival

VENICE, Italy—A legend of the stage, few people have become as synonymous with an art form as Maria Callas has with opera. Known affectionately as “La Divina” (or “The Divine One”), Callas’ once-in-a-lifetime voice and performance abilities made her an unbeatable name in the world of opera. Callas is finally receiving a long-overdue treatment in Pablo Larráin’s Maria , starring Angelina Jolie , her first role in three years, as Callas.

Maria , which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival , takes place in the week before the opera singer's death. It’s framed around an extensive interview of Maria Callas, conducted by Mandrax (Kodi Smitt-McPhee), a journalist keen to learn about every aspect of her life. Maria is happy to participate, even answering questions Mandrax doesn’t press her on. She’s surprisingly vulnerable despite her reputation for being quick to anger. Perhaps that’s all because the interview isn’t real and exists entirely within her mind, and Mandrax is also the name of her medication.

This is a compelling hook for a biopic, a storytelling method that often gets stuck into the same ebbs and flows. But Maria is a swirling, fragmented recollection of Callas’ life, one that leaves things frustratingly on the surface. Larraín has an incredible eye, and Maria is a richly textured visual feast. Brought to life by cinematographer Ed Lachman, the film makes beautiful use of Paris in the Autumn, reveling in a warm palette. The style sometimes gets away with itself, including a jarring first-person shakycam shot of a clothing rack, but it mostly works. And the visuals all work to serve Jolie’s pivotal performance.

But a performance is not an entire film, and the script keeps things frustratingly surface-level. This is a film that gets lost in its beauty and languishes through a two-hour runtime. Larraín is no stranger to an unconventional biopic, having directed both Neruda and Jackie , but the script gets away from him, indulging in a visual feast that struggles to find real substance. Maria languishes in sadness, offering little else in its story besides a date with misery.

That’s a shame because Jolie is sensational as Maria Callas. Despite the film focusing on Callas’ last days on Earth, Jolie never gives into the temptation of going for broke with some sort of manic desperation. She exudes the essence of a diva without the stereotypical hysterics. Maria’s internal organs may be failing her, but her exterior is poised and rigid. As Callas, Jolie walks with an almost ethereal quality as if strolling on clouds.

A still of Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in Maria.

Angelina Jolie

Her otherworldly confidence rarely gives way, but when it does, Jolie brings a chilling vulnerability to her performance.The film has Callas revisiting her past while reckoning with her future, which gives Jolie plenty of opportunities to explore her character. Not one for scenery chewing, Jolie looks inside Callas, channeling a remarkable pain behind her eyes, conflicting with her welcoming smile. Jolie is almost unbearably glamorous, draped in exquisite gowns and costumes courtesy of costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini.

And then there’s the singing. While all the songs in the film are recordings of the real Callas, Jolie embodies the singer exquisitely, lipsyncing the numbers with such gravitas and power that you’d think she became a trained opera singer for the role. There’s a clear difference between her singing in the flashbacks to her past—shot in vivid black-and-white—and the film’s present. In the past, she was an unstoppable force, but in the present, there’s a shakiness to the performance as she tries to find the voice she’s no longer physically capable of producing. Jolie is especially spellbinding here as the veins bulge in her forehead, bringing Callas’ legendary presence to life.

Jolie doesn’t bear much of a physical resemblance to Callas—and thankfully Maria avoids drowning Jolie’s expressive face in a sea of prosthetics. When the credits roll and the footage of the real Callas plays, Jolie embodies the operatic diva so well you’d be forgiven for thinking it's the actress herself on screen.

A still of Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in Maria.

Though Jolie delivers something truly special that only a true movie star can unearth, Maria lags behind her brilliance. The worlds of fantasy Maria has concocted in her head don’t converge satisfyingly with reality. While Jolie gives Callas interiority, the script is disjointed, focusing on so many seemingly disparate elements of the singer's life, including her love affair with Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer) that seems conspicuously absent of love. Aristotle frequently mentions how ugly he is, but Bilginer is undeniably handsome. The chemistry between the pair is lacking, and you never get the sense that Maria spends time with him for any other reason than obligation.

Though the film is often sluggish, especially when the focus occasionally shifts away from Callas, Jolie’s performance ranks among her finest. The festival season is enticing to many because it typically signals the beginning of awards season, where the biggest and brightest come out to remind everyone why they’re superstars. That’s precisely what Jolie does in Maria —even if the film isn’t quite worthy of her efforts.

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  • tour de force

noun as in spectacular achievement

Weak matches

  • accomplishment
  • achievement
  • chef-d'oeuvre
  • feat of strength
  • grand achievement
  • great achievement
  • magnum opus
  • master stroke
  • masterpiece
  • performance
  • pièce de résistance
  • stroke of genius

Example Sentences

In her aching memoir, she embarks on a tour de force examination of her childhood, marked first by her mother’s abandoning her when she was a toddler and later by the death of her beloved father.

Through the late 1960s, Capote claimed to be writing his masterpiece, his tour de force based on his swans, but several deadlines passed for it.

At 35, Hawa Hassan is already a tour de force when it comes to Somali food in America.

Understated yet opulent, measured, and intensely creepy, it’s a tour de force in balancing uncomfortable levels of tension and suspense with deep pathos.

Page’s tour de force performance in Hard Candy led, two years later, to Juno, a low-budget indie film that brought Page Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations and sudden megafame.

His family memoir, Sweet and Low, is a tour de force of reporting and memory—tender, curious, and exceptionally funny.

It is a tour de force of reporting: 13,000 words on a two-week deadline.

It's also a masterpiece of choreographed c--tery—Joffrey's final tour de force.

And, of course, she's best known for her ball-busting tour de force as Ed Helms's wife in The Hangover.

As a result, his version is a technical tour de force but a movie that never gets under your skin.

As a tour de force in the gentle art of lying, the snake-story is justly esteemed.

As a tour de force of geometrical imagination it would be difficult to parallel this hypothesis.

The physical tour de force, was one of those feats of agility in which Neb had been my instructor, ten years before.

If the Mastersingers was a little less successful as a work of art we should still have to regard it as an amazing tour de force.

The music for such incidents cannot be of the highest beauty; here we have one of the cases of a tour de force.

Related Words

Words related to tour de force are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word tour de force . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in something completed successfully; goal reached

  • acquirement
  • acquisition
  • actualization
  • consummation
  • contrivance
  • effectuation
  • encompassment
  • fulfillment
  • realization

noun as in model

noun as in achievement, often by maneuver

  • coup d'état
  • coup de mâitre
  • successful stroke

noun as in achievement

  • happenin'

Viewing 5 / 18 related words

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired.

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Life-size dinosaurs, a candy store tour and more to do this weekend

Take a road tip to Wiscasset for art, food, car racing and a gargantuan amount of candy.

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great tour de force

One of many dinosaurs that will be at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Photo courtesy of Jurassic Quest

Make no bones about it, it’s going to be a great weekend, starting with  Jurassic Quest at Cross Insurance Arena . Animatronic dinosaurs will delight the kids, who will also get a kick out of digging for fossils and riding on a baby dino. Another option in our weekly roundup is “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick.

‘Beautiful’ at Maine State Music Theatre, Pet Rock in the Park and Jurassic Quest

great tour de force

Some of the candy available at the Granite Hall Store in Round Pond. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

For an even sweeter experience, we’re sending you candy shopping. We’ve shined a light on five shops  with something extra to offer and created a nifty guide of 18 to look you can find  all around southern Maine and the Midcoast. From giant shops like Sweetz & More in Wiscasset to charming places like the Granite Hall Store in Round Pond, there’s a candy shop out there calling your name.

These 5 unique Maine candy stores are a real treat

great tour de force

The Brackett’s Market 4-Cylinder Pros compete Saturday at Wiscasset Speedway. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Should your sweets-seeking adventure bring you to Wiscasset, we clue you into  several other things to do  in town, including car races at the Wiscasset Speedway.

A trip to pretty Wiscasset can also include art, history, speed

great tour de force

Bagel sandwich with eggs, cheese and pork roll from Dutchman’s Wood-Fired Bagels in Brunswick. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

Want to hit breakfast right out of the park? Make your way to Brunswick for an egg and cheese sandwich from Dutchman’s Wood-Fired Bagels . We’re particularly partial to the one with pork roll and bodega sauce. Your taste buds can thank us later.

Pork roll and bodega sauce on a breakfast sandwich? We’re not in Brunswick anymore

great tour de force

Ling-Wen Tsai, “Rising/Sinking Study Chair,” wood and milk paint, 12 x 12 x 5 inches. Photo courtesy of Corey Daniels Gallery

Farther south in Wells, check out “Life Forms,” a women’s sculpture collective at the Corey Daniels Gallery. You’ll see works by about a dozen artists as you make your way through the exhibit.

Women’s sculpture collective debuts work in Wells

great tour de force

U.S. Navy Band Country Current performing in Tennessee. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class April Enos

For some Sunday afternoon live tunes, head to Memorial Park in Freeport at 3 p.m. for a free performance by Country Current . The band is the only U.S. Navy country/bluegrass ensemble, and the show should be a foot-stomping good time.

See U.S. Navy band Country Current for free in Freeport

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IMAGES

  1. Tour De Force (2013)

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  2. Tony Farrelly: Tour de Force Stages 19 & 20

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  3. Tour de Force Pictures

    great tour de force

  4. TOUR DE FORCE

    great tour de force

  5. Tour De Force 2016

    great tour de force

  6. What is a Tour de Force? Exploring the Different Types and Strategies

    great tour de force

VIDEO

  1. TOUR DE FORCE the best ULT in VALORANT

  2. Tour De Force

  3. Tour De Force

  4. Tour De Force Annihilation

  5. SVTDFSun valley tour de force 2024 did not disappoint even with Disappointment. sunvalleytourdeforce

  6. Le tour de force

COMMENTS

  1. TOUR DE FORCE

    TOUR DE FORCE definition: 1. an achievement or performance that shows great skill and attracts admiration: 2. an achievement…. Learn more.

  2. Tour de force Definition & Meaning

    The meaning of TOUR DE FORCE is a feat or display of strength, skill, or ingenuity. How to use tour de force in a sentence.

  3. TOUR DE FORCE Definition & Meaning

    Tour de force definition: an exceptional achievement by an artist, author, or the like, that is unlikely to be equaled by that person or anyone else; stroke of genius. See examples of TOUR DE FORCE used in a sentence.

  4. Tour de force

    A tour de force is an impressive or amazing feat, like climbing Mount Everest or recording a classic album.

  5. How to Use Tour de force Correctly

    Tour de force. Tour de force is French for feat of strength. In English, we use it to describe a particularly impressive display of skill and effort. The phrase came to English in the early 19th century, and it has become increasingly common ever since. Today, we use it not only as a noun phrase but also as a phrasal adjective.

  6. Tour-De-Force

    tour-de-force. noun. /ˌtʊə də ˈfɔːs/. IPA: Dictionary definition of tour-de-force. A performance or achievement that has been accomplished with great skill. "The chef's meal was a tour de force of flavors and textures." Detailed meaning of tour-de-force. "Tour de force" is a French phrase that translates to "a feat of strength" or "a ...

  7. Tour De Force Definition & Meaning

    Tour De Force definition: A feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty.

  8. tour de force

    Definition of tour de force noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

  9. Tour De Force

    Tour de force. Meaning. A feat of strength power or skill. Examples. He managed to lift the back off that truck off the ground - a real tour de force. Where did it originate?

  10. All resources related to 'tour de force'

    A complete guide to the word "TOUR DE FORCE": definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, grammar insights, collocations, examples, and translations.

  11. TOUR DE FORCE definition and meaning

    A masterly or brilliant stroke, creation, effect, or accomplishment.... Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video.

  12. TOUR DE FORCE Synonyms: 14 Similar Words

    Synonyms for TOUR DE FORCE: feat, deed, achievement, performance, stunt, exploit, number, success, trick, coup

  13. tour de force

    Define tour de force. tour de force synonyms, tour de force pronunciation, tour de force translation, English dictionary definition of tour de force. n. pl. tours de force A feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty: "In an extraordinary structural tour...

  14. tour de force noun

    The earliest known use of the phrase tour de force is in the 1800s. OED's earliest evidence for tour de force is from 1802, in a letter by Lord Elgin. tour de force is a borrowing from French. Etymons: French tour. See etymology.

  15. tour de force

    tour de force - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free.

  16. TOUR DE FORCE definition

    TOUR DE FORCE meaning: 1. an achievement or performance that shows great skill and attracts admiration: 2. an achievement…. Learn more.

  17. tour de force

    tour de force: A feat requiring great virtuosity or strength, often deliberately undertaken for its difficulty.

  18. What is a Tour de Force? Exploring the Different Types and ...

    This article explores what is a tour de force, including examples of successful tour de forces, the definition according to experts, different types, the role in pop culture, how to create a successful tour de force, and the pros and cons.

  19. Tour de force

    Definition of tour de force in the Idioms Dictionary. tour de force phrase. What does tour de force expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary.

  20. tour de force

    tour de force pronunciation: tur d fors features: Word Combinations . part of speech: noun: inflections: tours de force: definition: an exceptionally skillful or ingenious creation, performance, or production; outstanding display of skill. Her recent dance composition is a tour de force.

  21. A Tour de Force Homepage

    A Tour de Force provides a personal service for individuals and groups of all sizes. We create itineraries to satisfy your interests and time schedule, as well as transportation options ranging from sedans and SUVs, to vans, mini-buses and full-sized coaches.

  22. Angelina Jolie Will Get Another Oscar Nod for 'Maria'

    Jolie delivers a tour de force in Pablo Larráin's biopic of Maria Callas, which just premiered at the Venice Film Festival. It's too bad the film doesn't live up to her work.

  23. Oasis ticket sales

    Oasis Live '25 has been described as a "world tour", suggesting global dates will be announced soon. When do tickets go on general sale? Tickets for the UK shows went on general sale at 09:00 BST ...

  24. Taylor Swift

    6M likes, 1 comments - taylorswift on August 21, 2024: "In summation We have officially wrapped the European leg of The Eras Tour. With it came the most passionate crowds I've ever played for, new traditions in the show, and an entirely new era added in. It was a more hectic pace than we'd done before, and I'm so proud of my crew/fellow performers for being able to physically perform ...

  25. 21 Synonyms & Antonyms for TOUR DE FORCE

    Find 21 different ways to say TOUR DE FORCE, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

  26. Hentai Paradise Vol. 4

    Dive into stunning anime art and solve puzzles to enjoy images of lovely girls posing exclusively for you! The visual component of the game is designed in such a way as to convey the feeling of ...

  27. My Hero Academia: You're Next (2024)

    My Hero Academia: You're Next: Directed by Tensai Okamura. With Kaito Ishikawa, Yûki Kaji, Kenta Miyake, Mamoru Miyano. Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired.

  28. Life-size dinosaurs, a candy store tour and more to do this weekend

    For an even sweeter experience, we're sending you candy shopping. We've shined a light on five shops with something extra to offer and created a nifty guide of 18 to look you can find all ...