grand gesture, n.All

The Grand gesture (n.) that ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠cannot be undone is what a scandalised crowd gropes for: the weaker the purpose, the more mysterious it seems and the more desire it inspires.