411 REFERENCE · Wiktionary
October surprise
Reference material by Wiktionary contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
English
Noun
en US politics An occurrence that unexpectedly comes to public attention just prior to a November election, especially a presidential election, and that is likely to affect the outcome.
Usage notes
Frequently used to denote a scandal involving a candidate.
See also
en October Surprise conspiracy