どんでん返がえし

noun

plot twist; complete reversal; unexpected turn of events

Refers to a sudden, dramatic reversal in a story, situation, or outcome, often at the end. Commonly used in discussions of movies, novels, and dramas.

• この映えい画がのどんでん返がえしには本ほん当とうに驚おどろかされた。

  I was really surprised by the plot twist in this movie.

• 最さい後ごのどんでん返がえしで、犯はん人にんがまったく予よ想そう外がいの人じん物ぶつだとわかった。

  The final twist revealed that the culprit was a completely unexpected person.

noun

rotating stage mechanism; revolving stage trick

A traditional kabuki stage device where a section rotates backward 90 degrees to reveal a new scene. Rare in everyday conversation; mainly encountered in theater contexts.

See also: 強盗返し

• 歌か舞ぶ伎きのどんでん返がえしは、舞ぶ台たいの仕し掛かけとして有ゆう名めいだ。

  The kabuki revolving stage mechanism is famous as a stage device.