curtains

/ ˈkɜːtənz /

plural noun

1. informal.
   death or ruin; the end

   if the enemy see us it will be curtains for us

2. a hairstyle in which the hair is parted in the centre of the forehead and curved out over the temples

Example Sentences

The site was blacked out at all times, with curtains and painted exterior windows.

From The Daily Beast

She tells clients to open curtains as much as possible to get exposure to natural light right when the body is waking up.

From The Daily Beast

The result looks like curtains of red and green beams in the night sky.

From The Daily Beast

Inside, cabinets of bones three rows high are concealed by curtains pinned with ribbons and handwritten messages.

From The Daily Beast

The green hues are cascading across the sky like glowing curtains.

From The Daily Beast

Judy, already tucked inside her mosquito-curtains, was nearly asleep.

From Project Gutenberg

Large divans of the richest crimson and violet brocades lined the walls, while ample curtains of the same served in lieu of doors.

From Project Gutenberg

But, later, he grew afraid of the shadows of window-curtains and the flapping of doors and the creaking of shutters.

From Project Gutenberg

As a consequence several varieties of curtains, all involving the use of asbestos, have been contrived.

From Project Gutenberg

So it was he who in turn mounted the ladder, unhooking pictures and curtains, and dislodging ornaments as Edna directed.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Curtains

What does curtains mean?

The word curtains is a slang expression referring to the end, ruin, or death of something.

When the term is used to literally refer to death, it’s very irreverent, meaning it treats the subject very lightly and perhaps even humorously, as in It’ll be curtains for old Flattop when the boss sends his hitmen. It would be disrespectful in most cases to use the term to refer to a real-life death.

The term is often used in an exaggerated way that likens a failure to one’s undoing or death, as in It will be curtains for me if I don’t pass this test. 

The term is based on a figurative sense of the word curtain in the context of theater. When the literal stage curtains close for the final time after a performance, it means it’s over.

Example: It looks like it’s curtains for our hero unless he can find a way to escape!

Where does curtains come from?

The first records of the slang sense of curtains referring to death or ruin come from the early 1900s.

In the context of theater, the singular term curtain has several specific uses. The literal curtain on a stage is used to conceal the stage until the performance is ready to be seen. In a figurative sense, it can refer to the starting time of a performance, as in Curtain is at 2 p.m. or We have a 7 o’clock curtain. This sense of the word refers to the when the literal curtain opens.

Another sense of the word refers to when the curtain closes—it refers to the end of a scene or act, as in the second-act curtain. Curtain can also refer to the conclusion of a performance or a plot solution at the end, as in I liked the play, but I thought the curtain was weak. Like these senses, the slang term curtains always refers to an end of some kind. It’s often used in a way that’s intended to be humorous. It can be used in many contexts, such as an employee getting fired, a politician getting voted out of office, a team getting eliminated from the playoffs, or a kid getting grounded.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for curtains?

• the end

What are some words that share a root or word element with curtains? 

• be curtains for
• curtain
• curtain call

What are some words that often get used in discussing curtains?

• end
• death
• ruin
• undoing

How is curtains used in real life?

Curtains is often used in an irreverent or humorous way.

Lose Tuesday and I think it'll be curtains for us

— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) December 30, 2017

If you stand around waiting for a window of opportunity
It'll be curtains for you RS

— Ron Sexsmith (@RonSexsmith) January 26, 2016

Lil boys so lazy. I was in my son's room cleaning for 2 hours. I told him it will be curtains for him if this happens again☝🏾️#Iain'tplaying

— StacyisPraying (@shesforRussy) August 4, 2016

 

 

Try using curtains!

Is curtains used correctly in the following sentence?

If the polls are any indication, it’s going to be curtains for the senator on election day.