raise the curtain
Commence the show
To raise the curtain is to begin a theatrical performance—literally, by lifting the curtain that conceals the stage.
Figuratively, it means to start any event or reveal something previously hidden: The press conference raised the curtain on the new product line.
A few opening remarks raised the curtain on the evening's festivities.
- opening nightFirst staged performance
- opening actPreliminary concert performer
- commenceTo set underway
- stageRaised performance platform
- center stagePosition of maximum attention
take the stage · spotlight · reveal · disclose · initiate · divulge · break the news · debut · first act · announce · embark · inaugurate · manifest · launch · uncover · audience · illuminate · start
raise the curtainbring down the curtain
End something definitively
final curtain · curtain call · closing act · final act · take a bow
raise, raised, raising, raiser, raises, curtain, curtains, curtained, curtaining