curtain raising - Glite Dictionary

Examples

The curtain raising was a huge success!
They planned a special reception to mark the curtain raising of the festival's opening show.
His new play had its curtain raising last night and drew a full house.
The theater was buzzing with excitement before the curtain raising of the much-anticipated musical.
The curtain raising for the new play was attended by many excited fans.
During the curtain raising, the cast received a standing ovation from the audience.
After months of preparation, the curtain raising finally began, marking the start of the show.

Synonyms

performance

vscurtain raising

539 2.7

A live show of a play, concert, or dance for an audience

is narrower naming the initial public occasion rather than any presentation

premiere

vscurtain raising

179 4.4

The first public showing of a film, play, or music performance

is similar but often refers specifically to special first presentations

opening night

vscurtain raising

60 3.4

The first public performance of a play or film

is used for the formal start moment that begins the production

showing

vscurtain raising

3 2.1

A time when people can watch a film or play

is focused on the initial public moment rather than any single screening

theatrical performance

vscurtain raising

1 3.5

An event where actors act a play for an audience

is about the first such event rather than any ordinary staging

Antonyms

closing curtain

3.8

The final part of a show when the stage curtain goes down

Surface Forms

curtain raising singular

curtain raisings plural

Morphology

curtain + raise

The meaning 'the opening of a show' follows directly from the literal image of lifting a curtain to start a performance: 'curtain' (stage cloth) + 'raise' (lift) composes a predictable event. This construction (raise/lift the curtain = start/open a performance) is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Curtain raising comes from the theatre: when people do the raising of the curtain to show the actors, the performance begins. So, curtain raising now means the 'opening' or the 'first public performance' of a show.