plot coupon

English

Etymology

Coined by critic Nick Lowe.

Noun

plot coupon (plural plot coupons)

1. (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.

See also

• Chekhov's gun
• deus ex machina
• MacGuffin