command performance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “command performance” mean?
A special performance of a play, concert, or other entertainment given at the request or command of a monarch, head of state, or other authority.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A special performance of a play, concert, or other entertainment given at the request or command of a monarch, head of state, or other authority.
Any performance, show, or event that is held specifically because an important or authoritative person has requested it. More broadly, it can refer to any task or presentation executed under direct order or urgent need, often implying exceptional quality or pressure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The phrase originates from British royal tradition and remains more historically resonant in the UK, though it is fully understood and used in its figurative sense in the US.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries a stronger historical and ceremonial overtone related to the monarchy. In the US, it is more likely to be used figuratively in corporate or political contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to its historical roots, but overall usage is comparable in formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “command performance” in a Sentence
[verb] + a command performance (e.g., give, stage, request)command performance + [preposition] + [entity] (e.g., for the president, of the ballet)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “command performance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The theatre company was commanded to perform for the Queen.
- They were commanded to give a performance.
American English
- The board commanded a performance review from the division.
adjective
British English
- It was a command-performance event at the Palladium.
American English
- She felt the command-performance pressure from her investors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a high-pressure presentation or report demanded by senior executives, e.g., 'The CEO demanded a command performance from the sales team.'
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical or cultural studies discussing royal patronage of the arts.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. May be used humorously or sarcastically, e.g., 'My mother insisted on a command performance of my holiday photos.'
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “command performance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “command performance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “command performance”
- Using it to mean any excellent performance (it requires the element of a specific demand/request).
- Confusing it with 'commanding performance', which means a dominantly excellent performance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is commonly used figuratively in business, politics, or any situation where a task or presentation is specifically and authoritatively requested.
A 'command performance' is defined by being *requested by authority*, while a 'gala' is a lavish social event or celebration, which may or may not be requested by someone in power.
No, that is a different phrase. 'A commanding performance' means a powerful, dominant, or excellent performance, but it lacks the key element of being performed *at the command of* someone.
Traditionally, a monarch or head of state. In modern figurative use, it can be any person in a position of significant authority, such as a CEO, a major client, or a senior official.
A special performance of a play, concert, or other entertainment given at the request or command of a monarch, head of state, or other authority.
Command performance is usually formal in register.
Command performance: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmɑːnd pəˈfɔːməns/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmænd pərˈfɔːrməns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It wasn't a request, it was a command performance.”
- “He gave a command performance for the board.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a king COMMANDing a knight to PERFORM a dance. The knight must give a 'command performance'.
Conceptual Metaphor
ART IS SERVITUDE / A PERFORMANCE IS A COMMANDED TASK.
Practice
Quiz
In its figurative modern use, 'command performance' primarily implies: