ring up the curtain en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
In reference to ringing a bell to start a theatrical performance.
Meanings
-
To start something.
He was one of those who hold that revolutions are not made with rose-water; and with strange prescience he looked to the Russian peasant's hatred of his oppressors to ring up the curtain on a world-drama that should mean the destruction of civilisation.
2014, Ernest Newman, The Life of Richard Wagner, →ISBN, page 49:I caught her in my arms; she kissed me, pushed me gently away, and added: “Ring up the curtain, uncle. Little Moccasin is ready"
1879, The Peterson magazine - Volumes 75-76, page 444:After Congress had waited as long as it was willing to wait for Durant to ring up the curtain, it was lucky when all seemed lost to get the blessing, the services, and a great deal of the personal capital of one of the most wrongly judged men in the history of American railroad leadership: Oakes Ames.
1992, Albro Martin, Railroads Triumphant, →ISBN:She remembered perfectly the first sign he had given of it — it had been like the bell that was to ring up the curtain upon the real drama of their life.
1976, Waldemar Gutwinski, Cohesion in Literary Texts: A study of some grammatical and lexical features of English discourse, →ISBN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| rang up the curtain | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| ringing up the curtain | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| rung up the curtain | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| rings up the curtain | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |