fanfare

Everyday

1. A fanfare is a short, loud, exciting tune played on trumpets or other brass instruments to announce someone important or the start of something. tree →
2. Fanfare (uncountable) is a lot of excitement, publicity and showy celebration around something. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons and history, fanfares announce kings, queens and ceremonies. In everyday life and news, a new phone or film may be launched «with much fanfare», or something may happen «without fanfare», quietly. Phrases: «a fanfare of trumpets», «with great fanfare», «without fanfare».

Examples

• A fanfare of trumpets announced the queen. tree →
• The film opened with a loud fanfare. tree →
• The new park opened with great fanfare. tree →
• He retired quietly, without any fanfare. tree →
• Our school band played a fanfare at sports day. tree →
• The game was launched with a lot of fanfare online. tree →

Note

Countable for the tune (a fanfare), uncountable for the fuss (much fanfare). Comes from French. Say «FAN-fair».