A tour de force

Origin

The phrase "tour de force" comes straight from French, literally meaning a "feat of strength" or "turn of strength." But by the 17th century, it was already so much more than brute power. It vividly described an impressive accomplishment, particularly one that demanded extraordinary skill and effort in art or intellect. Picture a master craftsman, pushing the very limits of his medium to forge an intricate, breathtaking creation, or a composer crafting a symphony of unparalleled complexity. These were the true "tours de force." When the phrase arrived in English in the 19th century, it carried that exact same reverence for a spectacular, masterful demonstration, embedding itself in our language as the perfect way to laud an achievement that simply leaves you awestruck.