curtain raiser

Meaning

A 'curtain raiser' is a short play, performance, or event that occurs before the main attraction, designed to warm up the audience. While originating in the theater, the term is now widely used in sports and entertainment to describe an opening match, a preliminary concert, or an introductory event that sets the stage for a larger tournament or festival. It has a neutral tone and is common in journalism and media reporting.

Examples

• The charity match served as a curtain raiser for the main football tournament.

  The charity match served as a curtain raiser for the main football tournament.

• A local indie band performed a fantastic set as the curtain raiser for the headliner.

  A local indie band performed a fantastic set as the curtain raiser for the headliner.

• The short film was a perfect curtain raiser to the highly anticipated feature presentation.

  The short film was a perfect curtain raiser to the highly anticipated feature presentation.

• The opening ceremony functioned as a colorful curtain raiser for the week-long cultural festival.

  The opening ceremony functioned as a colorful curtain raiser for the week-long cultural festival.

• Before the championship fight, the undercards provided an exciting curtain raiser for the fans.

  Before the championship fight, the undercards provided an exciting curtain raiser for the fans.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The band played a curtain raiser song.

  ✓ The band's performance was a curtain raiser.

  'Curtain raiser' is a noun representing the entire opening event or show, not an adjective to describe individual items like a 'song'.

• ✗ We arrived late and missed the curtain raise.

  ✓ We arrived late and missed the curtain raiser.

  The correct idiomatic noun form is 'curtain raiser,' ending in '-er.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• The junior team's match was a great ___ for the main event.

  💡 An opening or preliminary event.

  Show answer

  curtain raiser

• They used a short comedic sketch as a ___ to prepare the audience for the drama.

  💡 A brief introductory performance.

  Show answer

  curtain raiser