Definition
A plot device where an unexpected power or event saves a seemingly hopeless situation, often in a way that feels contrived. The resolution comes from outside the story's established logic rather than from character actions or natural plot development.
Etymology
Latin for 'god from the machine,' referring to ancient Greek theater where actors playing gods were lowered onto stage by mechanical devices to resolve plots. The term was coined by Roman poet Horace who criticized this lazy storytelling technique.
Kelly Says
This device reveals ancient theater's literal magic! Greek tragedians would literally fly in actors dressed as gods using cranes and pulleys to solve impossible plot tangles, creating a theatrical spectacle that modern audiences might recognize in superhero movies where last-minute powers save the day.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
deus ex machina
ድእውስ እክስ ማክህና
ARالعربية
deus ex machina
دِيُس إكس ماخِينَا
BNবাংলা
deus ex machina
দিউস এক্স ম্যাকিনা
CACatalà
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
CSČeština
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
DADansk
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
DEDeutsch
Deus ex Machina
doy-us eks ma-ki-na
ELΕλληνικά
deus ex machina
διος εκ μαχίνας
ESEspañol
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
FAفارسی
deus ex machina
دِیُس ایکس ماخِینَا
FISuomi
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
FRFrançais
deus ex machina
døø eks ma-ki-na
GUGU
deus ex machina
દેઉસ એક્સ મૅકિના
HAHA
deus ex machina
djus eks ma-ki-na
HEעברית
deus ex machina
דיוס אקס מאכינה
HIहिन्दी
deus ex machina
देउस एक्स मॅचिना
HUMagyar
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
IDBahasa Indonesia
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
IGIG
deus ex machina
di-oos ek-s ma-ki-na
ITItaliano
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
JA日本語
deus ex machina
でウス エクス マキナ
KKKK
deus ex machina
дiйiс экс макинала
KMKM
deus ex machina
ឌឺស អេច ម៉ាខីណា
KO한국어
deus ex machina
드류스 익스 마키나
MRMR
deus ex machina
देऊस एक्स मॅकीना
MSBahasa Melayu
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
MYမြန်မာ
deus ex machina
ဒေါင်း အဲပါ စကီနာ
NLNederlands
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
NONorsk
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
PAPA
deus ex machina
ਦੇਊਸ ਐਕਸ ਮਾਕੀਨਾ
PLPolski
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
PTPortuguês
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
RORomână
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
RUРусский
deus ex machina
дьюс экс махина
SVSvenska
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
SWKiswahili
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
TAதமிழ்
deus ex machina
டீயஸ் எக்ஸ் மாகினை
TEతెలుగు
deus ex machina
డియస్ ఎక్స్ మాకినా
THไทย
deus ex machina
เดวส เอक्स มาคิอา
TLTL
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
TRTürkçe
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
UKУкраїнська
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
URاردو
deus ex machina
دِیُس ایکس ماخِینَا
VITiếng Việt
deus ex machina
deus eks ma-ki-na
YOYO
deus ex machina
djuːs ek-s ma-ki-na
ZH中文
神出鬼没
shén chū guǐ mò
ZUZU
deus ex machina
djus eks ma-ki-na