plot coupon
English edit
Etymology edit
Coined by critic Nick Lowe.
Noun edit
plot coupon (plural plot coupons)
- (fandom slang) An object sought by a character in a story in order to achieve some objective, having little purpose beyond advancing the plot.
- 2004, Foundation, volume 33, numbers 90-92, page 126:
- […] pain to see Clute single-handedly tackle multi-volume fantasy extrusion-product, with its flimsy plot coupons and its stale eucatastrophes.