1 B2 neutral
To divide or hide a part of a room or space using a curtain or hanging fabric.
"The hospital ward had been curtained off into smaller sections to give patients more privacy."
separable
curtain off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To separate or conceal a part of a space by hanging a curtain or similar fabric across it.
In plain English
To block off or hide part of a room by putting a curtain across it.
What does "curtain off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
Figuratively, to conceal or cut off something from view or access.
"Years of silence had curtained off his memories of the war."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use a curtain to close off part of a space.
Actually means
To block off or hide part of a room by putting a curtain across it.
Usage tip
Used in both literal and figurative contexts. Commonly appears in descriptions of hospitals, small apartments, theaters, and historic houses.
Words that pair with "curtain off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
area section room corner stage alcove
How to conjugate "curtain off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
curtain off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
curtains off
he/she/it
Past simple
curtained off
yesterday
Past participle
curtained off
have + pp
-ing form
curtaining off
continuous
Hear "curtain off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "curtain off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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