draw curtain
MediumNeutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
To close or open a curtain by pulling it.
To create a barrier or division, often to conceal something or to signal the end or beginning of an event.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrase can be literal (physical curtain) or metaphorical (conclusion, concealment). The direction (open/close) is often clarified by context or additional words like 'back', 'across', or 'together'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the phrase similarly. 'Draw the drapes' is slightly more common in American English, while 'draw the curtains' is standard in both.
Connotations
Can carry a theatrical or formal connotation, especially when used metaphorically.
Frequency
More frequent in written narratives and formal instructions than in casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Someone] draws [the curtain] [optional direction/adverb].[Something] draws a curtain on [an event/era].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “draw a curtain over (to conceal or forget)”
- “the curtain draws on (signals the end of)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally; metaphorically, e.g., 'The scandal drew a curtain on his career.'
Academic
Used in historical or literary analysis, e.g., 'The treaty drew a curtain on the conflict.'
Everyday
Primarily literal, e.g., 'Could you draw the curtains? It's too bright.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She drew the curtain to block the evening sun.
- Let's draw a curtain over that unfortunate incident.
American English
- He drew the drapes before turning on the projector.
- The verdict drew a final curtain on the long trial.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please draw the curtain. The room is too light.
- As the performance ended, the actor drew the curtain slowly.
- The new evidence drew a curtain of doubt over the original testimony.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an artist DRAWing a picture of a CURTAIN being pulled closed.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONCLUSION IS CLOSING A CURTAIN / CONCEALMENT IS A DRAWN CURTAIN
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from 'рисовать занавес' (to paint a curtain). The verb 'draw' here means 'to pull', not 'to sketch'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'close the curtain' exclusively when 'draw' implies the specific pulling motion.
- Omitting 'the' (e.g., 'draw curtain' instead of 'draw the curtain').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'draw the curtain on something' metaphorically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can mean either, depending on context. Traditionally, 'draw the curtain' often meant to close it. To avoid ambiguity, phrases like 'draw the curtain back' (open) or 'draw the curtain across' (close) are used.
It's standard and understood, but in everyday casual speech, people might more simply say 'close/open the curtains' or 'pull the curtains'.
Rarely. 'Draw the curtain' is the standard phrasal construction. 'Draw curtain' sounds incomplete or like a technical instruction.
'Curtains' is the more general, common term in both UK and US English. 'Drapes' is more common in American English and can imply heavier, more formal window coverings. The phrase works with both.