stage whisper

noun

1. a loud whisper on a stage, meant to be heard by the audience.
2. any whisper loud enough to be overheard.

stage whisper

noun

1. a loud whisper from one actor to another onstage intended to be heard by the audience
2. any loud whisper that is intended to be overheard

Word History and Origins

Origin of stage whisper¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Idioms and Phrases

A whisper loud enough to be overheard, as in Our three-year-old behaved beautifully at the ceremony, but then he asked in a stage whisper, “Why does that lady have blue hair?” This expression alludes to an actor's whisper on stage, which is meant to be heard by the audience. [Mid-1800s]