Home decor: Curtains are fabric panels used to cover windows, mainly for privacy, controlling light, and adding style to a room. They come in many types (sheer, blackout, thermal), materials (cotton, velvet, linen), and styles (pleated, grommet, tab-top).

Theatrical use: In theater, “curtains” refer to the heavy drapes that open and close at the beginning and end of a performance.

Metaphorically: “Curtains” can symbolize an ending — like when someone says “it’s curtains for him,” meaning it’s the end of something (sometimes dramatically, like the end of a career or life).