cliffhanger

 
Pronunciation: /ˈklɪfhaŋə/

noun

  • a dramatic and exciting ending to an episode of a serial, leaving the audience in suspense and anxious not to miss the next episode: it will take more than outrageous cliffhangers to win the ratings wars [as modifier]: a cliffhanger ending
  • a story or event with a strong element of suspense: the match was a cliffhanger right up to the final whistle

Derivatives

cliffhanging

adjective

Origin:

1930s: from early film serials in which episodes ended with characters in desperate situations such as hanging off the edge of a cliff