Definition of cue card

large cardboard or oaktag strip (usually 14" X 22" in size) with the copy to be spoken by a performer written on one side in clear, legible print; also called idiot card. Used in television production, cue cards serve as prompters for the talent in front of the camera. The cards are held by a member of the stage crew (usually the floor manager or assistant floor manager) near the camera lens, at a distance of about 8 to 12' away from the performer, so that it is not obvious to the home audience that the script is being read. Cue cards allow performers to make eye contact with the home audience and make it easier for them to deliver lines without mistakes.