byplaynoun [ U or S ]
uk/ˈbaɪ.pleɪ/us/ˈbaɪ.pleɪ/things that happen while something else more important is happening:
The joy of the film lay in its rich comic byplay.
There has been an interesting byplay in this election between foreign and domestic audiences.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Cinema & theatre: parts of plays, shows & films
- act
- blooper reel
- coup de théâtre
- curtain call
- denouement
- finale
- flashback
- fourth wall
- intermission
- interval
- scene
- set piece
- showstopper
- sketch
- stage direction
Examples from literature
- Some actors scarcely ever need a hint at rehearsal, reading their speeches naturally the first time and finding for themselves the appropriate byplay,—"business," as technical phrase terms it.
- Strong was busy talking to someone on the portable intercom and had missed the byplay between the three finalists.