cur·tain   (kûr'tn)    n.   Material that hangs in a window or other opening as a decoration, shade, or screen. Something that functions as or resembles a screen, cover, or barrier: the curtain of mist before the mountain; a heavy curtain of artillery fire. The movable screen or drape in a theater or hall that separates the stage from the auditorium or that serves as a backdrop. The rising or opening of a theater curtain at the beginning of a performance or act. The time at which a theatrical performance begins or is scheduled to begin. The fall or closing of a theater curtain at the end of a performance or act. The concluding line, speech, or scene of a play or act. The end. Absolute ruin: "If the employee doesn't shape up, it's curtains" (Business Week). Death. The part of a rampart or parapet connecting two bastions or gates. Architecture A curtain wall. curtains Slang The end. Absolute ruin: "If the employee doesn't shape up, it's curtains" (Business Week). Death. tr.v.   cur·tained, cur·tain·ing, cur·tains To provide (something) with or as if with a curtain. To shut off (something) with or as if with a curtain. [Middle English cortine, from Old French, from Late Latin cōrtīna, from Latin cōrs, cōrt-, variant of cohors, court; see court.]

Curtain

Cur"tain\ (k?r"t?n; 48), n. [OE. cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See Court.]

1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage.

2. (Fort.) That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of Ravelin and Bastion.

3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc.

4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] --Shak.

Behind the curtain, in concealment; in secret.

Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. --Jerrold.

A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. --W. Irving.

The curtain falls, the performance closes.

The curtain rises, the performance begins.

To draw the curtain, to close it over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance.

To drop the curtain, to end the tale, or close the performance.

curtain 

Curtain

(1.) Ten curtains, each twenty-eight cubits long and four wide, made of fine linen, also eleven made of goat's hair, covered the tabernacle (Ex. 26:1-13; 36:8-17). (2.) The sacred curtain, separating the holy of holies from the sanctuary, is designated by a different Hebrew word (peroketh). It is described as a "veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work" (Ex. 26:31; Lev. 16:2; Num. 18:7). (3.) "Stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain" (Isa. 40:22), is an expression used with reference to the veil or awning which Orientals spread for a screen over their courts in summer. According to the prophet, the heavens are spread over our heads as such an awning. Similar expressions are found in Ps. 104:2l; comp. Isa. 44:24; Job 9:8.

curtain

In addition to the idioms beginning with curtain, also see draw the curtain; raise the curtain; ring down the curtain.