curtain raiser

noun

1. a short play preceding a main play.

2. any preliminary event or performance.

curtain-raiser

noun

1. theatre a short dramatic piece presented before the main play

2. any preliminary event

   the debate was a curtain-raiser to the election

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtain raiser¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Idioms and Phrases

Preliminary event, as in This limited attack on the chairman is just a curtain raiser for the concerted effort to oust him. This term literally refers to a short play or skit presented before the main theatrical production. It began to be transferred to other preliminaries about 1940.

Related Words

• lead-in 
• warmup